You Don't Need to Move Back to Sell
You do not need to move back to Nevada just to sell a house here.
Remote sales happen all the time.
But selling from another state works best when somebody local is actually paying attention to the property.
First, What Condition Is the House In?
The first step is understanding what condition the house is currently in.
Maybe you moved out three months ago and the property is clean, maintained and ready.
Maybe a tenant recently left.
Maybe a relative has been checking it.
Maybe you haven't physically seen the house in a year.
Those are very different starting points.
Lisa can evaluate the property locally and communicate with you remotely about preparation, pricing and marketing.
If Work Is Needed, You Still Decide
If work is needed, the seller still decides what is authorized.
Do not hand somebody a blank check simply because you're out of state.
Determine:
What actually needs to happen?
Who will perform it?
What will it cost?
Who has access?
Who approves additional work?
Basic Property Care From a Distance
Remote sellers also need to think about basic property care.
A vacant Las Vegas house still needs:
HVAC management.
Landscape care.
Pool service where applicable.
Leak awareness.
Security.
Mail management.
HOA correspondence.
General observation.
The house should not look abandoned because the owner happens to live in Chicago now.
Showings Generally Get Easier Vacant
Showings can generally be easier when the property is vacant, assuming access is properly established.
Lisa can coordinate the listing side and communicate showing activity without the seller physically returning every time a buyer wants to visit.
Documents and Signing
Documents can often be handled electronically throughout much of the transaction, subject to the actual closing requirements.
But if the seller will be outside the country, unavailable, or dealing with unusual signing circumstances, bring that up early.
Do not wait until the day before closing to announce:
By the way, I'm on a boat in Greece and won't have internet for four days.
The closing professionals may need specific arrangements.
Wire Fraud Is a Real Threat
Remote sellers should also be particularly cautious with fraud.
Real-estate transactions involve large amounts of money and sensitive instructions.
Verify wiring or disbursement instructions directly with the legitimate title/escrow professionals using trusted contact information.
Do not rely on an unexpected email saying:
Send your proceeds here instead.
It Shouldn't Feel Like “I Hope Somebody Is Handling It”
Most importantly, a remote sale should not feel like:
I hope somebody is handling it.
You should know:
What is happening.
What the property looks like.
When showings happen.
What feedback is coming in.
What offers mean.
Where the transaction stands.
Lisa becomes the local real-estate point of coordination while you remain the owner making the decisions.
For more on the closing side from a distance, see the remote closing resource center.
Want to Know What the Records Say About Your Property?
Request a free Property DNA report. Property DNA can include available property, ownership/history, mortgage-related, comparable, neighborhood, school, risk, public-record and other property information depending on available sources.
Current typical turnaround is approximately 40 minutes during normal business hours, and many reports are returned within one hour or the same business day, but turnaround is not guaranteed and can vary.
Property DNA is free through Lisa. Request a free Property DNA report.
Important
Property DNA uses third-party, public-record and other available data believed reliable but not guaranteed. It is provided for informational purposes and is not an appraisal, title search, title commitment, title insurance policy, inspection, survey, legal opinion, tax opinion, environmental report or guarantee of value.
