This document provides 5 tips for listing a home: 1) Get pre-approved to know affordability and qualify for faster closings. 2) Complete a pre-listing checklist to prepare curb appeal and interior. 3) Consider minor, cost-effective upgrades over renovations. 4) Price the home correctly using comparable analyses rather than automated estimates. 5) Implement a solid marketing plan including internet, emails, flyers and open houses for maximum exposure.

1. 5 Tips You Must
Know Before
Listing Your Home
Presented By: Michael Johnson
Cal BRE: 01966774

2. Tip 1: Get Your Own Pre-Approval
• By getting a pre-approval you will know:
• How much home you can afford
• Which homes are worth looking at
• You will also be able to:
• Close faster when you find your new home

3. What Documents Will I Need to Provide?
• Your Last 30 Days of Paystubs
• Your Last 2 Years of Federal Tax Returns
• All Forms and Schedules
• Your Last Two Months or Quarterly Statements of All Assets Being Used
• All Pages! Even if the page is blank
• Last 2 Years of W2’s

4. Tip 2: Get Your Home Ready to Sell by
Completing a Pre-Listing Checklist
Curb Appeal Enhancements
 Lawn Maintenance
 Mow
 Fill in bare spots
 Eliminate weeds
 Run edger along driveway and
sidewalks
 Trim Shrubs
 Remove dead branches
 Remove or replace dying plants and
bushes

5. Checklist Cont…
Outdoor Furniture | Patios | Decks
 Clean all outdoor furniture
 Sweep
 Get rid of cobwebs
 Touchup paint as needed
 Door
 Pillars, etc.
 Add some fresh flowers
 New hardware if needed
 Door Handle
 Outdoor lighting

6. Checklist Cont…
Siding| House Numbers | Mailbox
 Pressure wash siding
 Check Lowes or Home Depot for
rentals
 Check condition of house numbers
on home
 Change if necessary or consider
updating
 Check to make sure numbers on
the curb are visible
 Add fresh paint if needed
 Check condition of mailbox

7. Checklist Cont…
Windows and Screens
 Clean widows and screens
 Re-paint if needed
 Re-caulk if needed

8. Checklist Cont…
Inside Your Home
 Declutter
 Clean out closets
 Best practice is to leave at least half of
the space empty
 Clean out garage
 Have a yard sale
 Give things away
 Take unneeded things to Goodwill
 Get rid of clutter!
 Rent a storage if there are things you
must keep

9. Checklist Cont…
Clean All Rooms
 Doors
 Windows
 Light switches
 Baseboards
 Walls
 Floors
 Carpet
 Mirrors

10. Checklist Cont…
Kitchen
 Clean appliances
 Fix broken tile
 Re-grout if needed
 Fix leaky faucets
 Replace damaged knobs
 Light Fixtures
 Keep clean
 Consider updating
 Consider painting cabinets
 Replace outdated hardware

11. Checklist Cont…
Bathrooms
 Make your mirrors shine
 Scrub grout
 Fix leaky faucets
 Lubricate shower door
 Check caulk around bath tub
 Check caulk around shower
 Replace caulk where needed
 Replace shower head if needed
 Replace noisy fan if needed
 Replace burnt out lights

12. Checklist Cont…
Closets
 Make them look BIG!!!
 Pack away things not being used
 Organize clothes and shoes
 Lubricate doors and eliminate
squeaks
 Check hardware, replace if
necessary

13. Checklist Cont…
Depersonalize (ask yourself “would
other people want this in their home?”
 Remove personal photos, certificates,
awards, etc.
 Pack away collections
 Dolls, stuffed animals, etc.
 Remove exercise equipment
 Have something considered politically
correct? Remove it
 Depersonalize bathrooms by removing
toothbrushes, deodorants, bathrobe, etc.
 Remove pet stuff
 Beds, bowls, chew toys
 Paint on walls should be neutral
 Remove outdated wall paper

14. Tip 3: Minor Upgrades are Better than
Major Renovations (ask yourself “what do buyers want?”)
Minor Upgrades to Consider (Source:
Consumer Reports)
 Kitchen Upgrades ($300-5000)
 Potential Return: 3 to 7%
 Repairs such as new faucets, light fixtures,
burn marks on counters
 Upgrades such as new countertops or new
flooring, new appliances if needed
 Bathroom Upgrades ($300-1000)
 Potential Return: 2 to 3%
 Caulk bathtub
 Re-grout tile floor
 New Fixtures
 New flooring, vanity countertops
 New toilets (switch to something more
water efficient)

15. Minor Upgrades Cont…
Paint & Exterior
 Paint ($100-1000)
 Potential Return: 1 to 3%
 Add a fresh coat wherever needed
 Kitchen and bathrooms are good
candidates for a complete paint job
 Whites and off-whites attract the most
buyers
 Enhance the Exterior ($150-7500)
 Potential Return: 2 to 5%
 Mowing, trimming, etc.
 Fresh mulch for garden beds
 Replace cracked siding
 Power wash
 Repaint entry door
 Need a new roof?

16. Tip 4: Get pricing right!
How NOT to price
 Zestimates
 Zillow even states: “the Zestimate is
not an appraisal and you wont be
able to use it in place of an appraisal
 Any other AVM (automated
Valuation Model)
 AVM’s are inconsistent and do not
account for upgrades, the state that
your yard is in (for better or worse),
and many other factors that affect
your homes appraised value

17. Get pricing right. Cont….
Also Important
 When you interview Listing Agents,
don’t just pick the agent who gives
you the highest listing price
 Pricing a home too high can:
 Scare away potential buyers
 Make it take longer to sell
 Botch a loan application if the property
doesn’t appraise…which will leave you
looking for another buyer

18. Get pricing right. Cont….
How To Properly Price Your Home
 Comparative Analysis
 Check prices recently paid for similar
homes in your neighborhood
 Up to 6 months back. The more recent
the better
 Homes with identical characteristics
 Similar square footage
 Number of beds and baths
 Condition and age
 Within a proper distance. Usually
within one mile

19. Get pricing right. Cont….
Other Comparative Factors
 Look at conditions of the sale
 Was it a short sale, estate sale,
standard sale, etc.
 Location Comparability
 What kind of view does the comp
have…better or worse?

20. Tip 5: A Solid Marketing Plan is Crucial
Internet Marketing
 Internet Advertisements
 Google Adwords
 Bing Ads
 Facebook Ads
 Instagram Ads, etc.
 MLS
 Cascades to hundreds of sites like:
 Zillow
 Trulia
 Redfin
 Facebook community groups
 Linkedin
 Website traffic
 Blog posts
 Craigslist

21. A Solid Marketing Plan is Crucial. Cont…
Email Blasts
 Email local agents
 Hundreds of buyers agents can be
emailed at once with your property
information
 Email to customer database
 Just listed emails to customer
database in case they know someone
looking to buy

22. A Solid Marketing Plan is Crucial. Cont…
Traditional Marketing
 Flyers
 Direct mail campaign
 Networking
 Phone calls
 Yard sign

23. A Solid Marketing Plan is Crucial. Cont…
Open Houses
 Conduct a weekly open house
 Side note – It’s important to use high quality photos for all
marketing. The internet is usually the first place a potential buyer
will see your property. Its is important to make a great first
impression.

24. Thanks for joining.
Any Questions?
Contact: Mike Johnson | 661-481-8860 | mike@crownlistings.com