What should I do to get ready for a "listing appointment?"

A listing appointment is most productive if you have the following information on hand. Because the list is long, we've divided it into essential items and optional items:

Essential Information:

- Your property tax payments and/or condominium fees for the past year.
- Your loan account number and loan balance, your interest rate if possible, your P.I.T.I. (principal, interest, taxes, insurance) and the amount of assumable mortgage money available, if any. Your agent will help you notify your lender of your intention to pay off your loan, which lessens the amount of prepayment penalty and interest you may or may not be subject to, depending on your lender's terms.
- A list of personal property that will go with the home (also "convey") when you sell. If removing the item will create needed repairs, the item is considered real property that goes with the home unless otherwise indicated.
- A list of personal property that will not go with the home.
- Legal property descriptions.
- Homeowner's association or condominium bylaws.
- A list of major unresolved defects which should eventually be disclosed to a buyer. If you have a major problem you don't intend to correct, be candid about it. Honest disclosure is always best.

Optional Information:

- Your utility bills for the past year.
- A list of all the energy-efficiency features (insulation, etc.), including improvements you've made (solar water heater, etc.), ideally with utility bills before and after improvements to illustrate the savings.
- A certificate, if available, showing your home is free of termites. Inspection can be ordered later.
- A list of property tax assessments and any existing easements.
- A certificate of current inspection of your septic tank and well, if you have either.
- Any documentation available of other home-related matters such as:

a) Warranties still in effect on electrical, heating/cooling systems, appliances, etc.
b) A property survey or house location plat.
c) A floor plan if you have one.
d) Title insurance policy.
e) A professional property appraisal if available.

- A list of special features that you think would help sell your home, such as extra storage, built-ins or a generator to insure against power outage, etc.
- A list of the features you personally like about your home and neighborhood.
- A map of the area, pinpointing the convenience of schools, transportation, shopping, recreation.
- Anything that you think would help get your home sold quickly, profitably and with the least inconvenience to you.