Selling a home is a process that can take a lot of time. It’s also a process that needs to be undertaken very carefully. If you are selling your home, keep in mind there are scammers out there. You want to avoid them. These tips here can prevent losses, keep your finances in order and make it easy to sell your home for the price you have in mind.
Ask For Credentials
One of the first things you should do is ask for credentials. Ask people to show you a copy of any license they claim. They should be able to provide updated and current documents that indicate they are licensed by the state. If they are hesitant or take time doing so, that can and should raise red flags.
Be Wary
Now is the time to be as wary as possible. You want to feel good about everyone you come into contact with during the selling process. If someone is giving off bad vibes, trust your guts. Think about backing away from them and walking away from what they are offering for your property.
Double Check
Everything related to the management of your house should be double checked. This means examining all documents closely. Your goal is to avoid mistakes. Common scams may give themselves away in small ways. For example, you might see own name spelled slightly incorrectly or your address listed as avenue rather than street. You need to make sure that all things sent to you are correct in every way before you do anything else. A single mistake can be ignored. More than one often indicates someone who does not know what they’re doing.
Everything in Writing
Get every single thing related to anything on your property in writing. Any offer should be in writing. Make sure to use a legal document such a bill of sale that describes the type of the deal and transfer of ownership. Read this article about the bill of sale on LegalZoom for more information about how to use it. The same is true for all terms on the offer. It’s a good idea to have someone examine the material for you. A lawyer, for example, might be able to spot any mistakes in the print. If you see problems, now is the time to have them a closer look at them. It’s also the time to bring them to the attention of the person who made the offer. This will protect your interest going forward as the sale proceeds.
Previous Records
Anyone who is involved in making some kind of offer on your house should have a previous record of success. Look up their name online. If they claim to be representing an agency, that agency should have previous records. See what others have said about the agency. A lack of previous records should raise issues in your mind. The same is true of any kind of negative reviews. If you see there are lots negative reviews of the company, this should set up issues that must be thought about. Ask the company to explain those reviews to you.
Study the Markets
Before you put your home up for sale, now is the time to see what kind of housing market you face in your area. You want to make sure that the housing markets are in your favor as a seller whenever possible. This will give you the upper hand. Even in such a market, keep in mind that you might have offers that are looking to take advantage of you and then resell the property to other owners. In a down market, now is the time to be doubly cautious. Knowing what is going on is the best defense against any possible scams might be at your door.
Take Your Time
There’s no need to rush. Even if you want to sell your home as quickly as possible, it’s still the best course of action to take some time and think of what’s going on. Give at any offer at least forty-eight hours to respond. Someone who is pressuring you to act more quickly is not necessarily acting in your best interest. Selling a home is big decision for any homeowner. You need that time to think about it. When someone is asking for you for immediate answers, it’s a very bad sign.
Eric Reyes
Eric Reyes is a passionate thought leader having been featured in 50 distinguished online and offline platforms. His passion and knowledge in Finance and Business made him a sought after contributor providing valuable insights to his readers. You can find him reading a book and discussing current events in his spare time.