Wisconsin

Wisconsin boasts of a five-star quality of life because of several factors. These include affordable housing, good academic institutions, low crime rate, a balanced standard of living, lesser traffic and peace of mind. A survey from 2000 to 2004 showed more than 13,000 people relocated to Wisconsin making it the only state in the Midwest to slightly increase its population by domestic migration.

Moving to Wisconsin should be no problem because of the many homes for sale in the area. If you’re one of those thinking of selling your home, below are some important information which might help you in your task.

Before selling your property, it’s vital that you do your own research especially if you’re planning to sell by yourself. Get all the information about your local market and visit open houses to have a comparison. For sales information, you can check the Internet and use online tools. Set a competitive price so as not to turn off your potential buyers. It’s better to set a realistic price than overpricing your home and end up with no buyers at all.

Next step is to prepare your home’s appearance by cleaning your yard and all parts of the interior of your home such as the kitchen, living room, bathroom, bedrooms, the attic or basement and the garage. Take away the clutter and organize all your stuff. Make your home look as spacious as possible to provide buyers with a comfortable feeling when they visit. You can then take pictures of your home for showing on websites that offer free home-listing services. You can also make your own flyers which you can distribute in your neighborhood and other public areas.

Real Estate Forms & Contracts Required

Wisconsin requires a specific forms in the sale or purchase of a real estate property. Called the residential real estate contract for sale – cash or seller financing, this contract can be used by either the seller or buyer of a home. It states the terms and conditions of both parties as well as contingencies on finances, pest inspections and title issues. If the home is sold by the owner himself or when the buyer either assumes a current loan or acquires a new loan, this form is normally used.

A second form specific only to Wisconsin is the residential real estate sale contract. The information provided in this form is similar to the one previously mentioned but differs only in its use. The Wisconsin state law requires that this form be used by the buyer of a home if he or she pays in cash or if the purchase is made through a financed promissory note obtained by a deed of trust or by a previous mortgage.

Pricing your home

Be sure to offer a realistic price to your buyers. An incorrect price – too high or too low – could make your home stay long on the market with you getting a much lower price than the real worth of your property. A home appraisal is your best option.

Expert appraisers say some homeowners don’t mind paying $300 to $400 for an appraisal before selling their homes. A home appraisal usually considers the location of your home such as its proximity to schools as well as the obvious defects like cracking paint. It also evaluates the status of the local real estate market thus giving homeowners realistic expectations in the sale of their homes.

In negotiating your sale price, you can propose several counter offers as you wish. But be sure not to accept more than one offer. You may use a standard counter offer form that states the acceptance of an offer only if the buyer signs the document.