PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR SALE
"What’s Next?"
"What Should the Seller Do?"
"What Should the Seller Expect?"
"How Should the Seller Expect to Feel?"
Preparing the Interior
1. Declutter Your Home
2. Remove All Large Pieces of Furniture
3. Remove All Extra Pieces of Furniture (less is better)
4. Remove all Family Photos and Personal Artwork
5. Remove all the things you can't risk losing
6. How should the Seller prepare the house for the Photographer?
The house should be in “Showing Condition” for the Photographer. Showing Condition is defined as “the condition” in which the seller has “chosen to prepare and present the property” to Agents/Buyers/Broker’s for a scheduled property showing.
The Seller should “Prepare The House Like It Is a Buyer/Agent Showing”:
- Turn on ALL lights
- Open ALL shades, blinds, and shutters
- Turn off ALL ceiling fans
- Turn on smooth jazz background music
- Turn on ALL electric fireplaces
- Remove ALL vehicles from the driveway and park on the street (Home Inspector will need to access the attic or crawl space in the garage)
7. Who will be present at the House Photography/Videographer Session?
A representative from the Mastropieri Group will be present at your Photography Session. The Professional Photographer & Videographer, who is typically one person.
8. How many times will the Photographer/Videographer come to the property?
The Photographer/Videographer is typically scheduled one-time to take photos and video.
Occasionally, the photographer will come back a second time if they need to re-shoot an interior or exterior photo.
9. Should the Seller be at the Photography Session?
No, the seller should NOT be at the Photography Session. Do not wait to meet the home inspector, the buyer’s agent, the buyer, or The Mastropieri Group. Do not leave the door open or unlocked, unless instructed by the Mastropieri Group. Please understand that if the seller is at the home inspection, the buyer or home inspector can ask the seller questions about their property which may jeopardize the sale. The seller should not be at the Home Inspection to help provide the Inspector and/or Buyer with reasons for what is wrong with the property.
10. Is it Okay for the Seller to Talk with the New Buyer and Home Inspector?
No, the Seller should NOT talk to the New Buyer or the Home Inspector. The Seller should not be at the Home Inspection. THE SELLER SHOULD LEAVE 30 MINUTES BEFORE the scheduled Home Inspection to avoid answering any questions about the condition of the property. The SELLER SHOULD WAIT FOR THE TEXT OR CALL from The Mastropieri Group before returning home to avoid a meeting with the Buyer and Home Inspector.
11. How long is the Buyer Home Inspection?
A Home Inspection can last between 1-5 hours depending on the size of the property, the condition of the property and the number of Home Inspectors scheduled. The Mastropieri Group will text and/or call the seller when the home inspection is completed. The Mastropieri Group will turn off all the lights, lock all the doors and follow any sellers’ special instructions.
12. Who pays for the Home Inspection?
The Buyer is responsible to pay for the Home Inspection.
13. Is the Buyer required to do a Home Inspection?
The Buyer is not required to do a Home Inspection. The buyer can choose to buy the house in “As Is” condition with no Home Inspection. A Buyer may do this to give the Seller more incentive to take a Buyer’s Offer with no Home Inspection and in “As Is” condition.
14. What if the Buyer’s Home Inspector breaks something in the house?
Line 267 12. PROPERTY INSPECTION; RIGHT TO CANCEL:
Buyer shall be responsible for prompt payment for such inspections, for repair of damage to, and restoration of, the Property resulting from such inspections, and shall provide Seller with paid receipts for all work done on the Property.
15. Is the Buyer required to share Home Inspection Report?
The Buyer is not required to share the Home Inspection Report. The buyer paid for the Home Inspection Report and therefore, the buyer owns the Home Inspection Report. The Buyer can choose to share the Home Inspection Report with the sellers or not share the report.
16. When will the Seller find out about Home Inspection Results?
The “As Is” Residential Contract For Sale And Purchase states the exact amount of time the Buyer has to complete the Home Inspection.
Line 260 12. (a) PROPERTY INSPECTIONS AND RIGHT TO CANCEL: Buyer shall have 0-15 days (if left blank, the 15) days after Effective Date (“Inspection Period”) within which to have such inspections of the property performed as Buyer shall desire during the Inspection Period.
Before the end of the inspection period, the Buyer has the right to request from the Seller:
- Buyer’s Request for Repairs or
- Buyer’s Request for Credit or
- Buyer’s Sole discretion that the Property is not acceptable to Buyer, Buyer may terminate this contract or
- Buyer’s Acceptance of Property in “As Is” condition (no repairs and no credits).
The Seller will get an email from the Mastropieri Group with the Buyer’s written response and/or a copy of the Home Inspection Report (if the buyer is requesting repairs or credits). The Mastropieri Group will talk with the Seller to discuss the seller’s options and the broker’s recommendations.
17. Can the Seller cancel the Maintenance Service on the property after the Inspection?
The "As Is” Residential Contract For Sale And Purchase clearly states that the Seller is required to continue regular maintenance of the property until the day of closing. This includes, but is not limited to, regular Lawn & Garden Service & Pool Cleaning & Maintenance Service.
Line 260 12. (a) PROPERTY INSPECTIONS AND RIGHT TO CANCEL: Line 273 Seller is subject to continuing AS IS Maintenance Requirement.
18. How should the Seller expect to feel before, during & after the Home Inspection?
It’s very normal for a seller to experience these emotions during the Home Inspection.
The Seller worries that the buyer will see too many things wrong with the home. (mad)
The Seller worries that the buyer may walk away from the deal. (embarrassed)
The Seller worries that something may be in disrepair. (uncomfortable)
The Seller worries that the inspector may break something. (apprehensive)
The Seller worries that the cost of the buyer’s repairs will be unfairly high. (offended)
The Seller worries that the Inspector will find something unexpected. (awkward)
The Seller worries that the Inspector will find mold. (disturbed)
The Seller worries that the property is not acceptable to the Buyer. (mortified)
The Seller worries about the neighbor’s gossip. (humiliated)
The Seller worries that the buyer may walk away from the deal. (nervous)
The Seller worries that the buyer may not like their home. (defensive)