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Maybe your family has recently expanded and you’re in need of a bigger place to live. Perhaps the opposite is true. Your children have gotten married and moved into their own homes, leaving you with too much space and too many stairs to climb. Either way, you’re thinking of selling your home and you’re not enthusiastic.
The home selling process is not always friendly and you might not be looking forward to putting your home on the market Unfortunately, this is what you must do to get it sold. Think it through before you get started. This will help encourage the process to run smoothly.
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Talk to local friends that have recently sold their homes and ask especially about well-liked, top producing agents. Find a real estate agent who will truly handle the entire process, quickly and efficiently. Look for someone with at least five years of experience and who is an award winner. Notable awards and mentions will likely be posted in their office.
Above all, list your property with someone who makes you feel comfortable. Of course you should check out the reputation of the company too. Depending upon your area, would you have more confidence in a noteworthy, local company or a national chain?
Ask these questions of yourself before deciding on an a professional.
Will this top-producer with lots of listings give adequate attention to selling your home?
While they’re considered a good agent, does that mean ethically, as a producer or as an expert in customer service?
What’s most important to you as a client?
Remember to Check the License
Take a look at the license of your potential professional home seller before making your decision. Aside from how long he’s been licensed, you can learn if there were any disciplinary actions in the past. Take your time, if possible, and even talk to a few agents before making your decision.
Keep in mind, this is the person who will be handling all the paperwork for your sale and advising you on all the financial areas of selling. He or she should be able to smoothly guide you through the process and answer all your questions.
Pricing Your Home
When you’ve decided on who will represent you, you’ll want to learn the market value of your home. While the realtor will have a good idea you should learn how much comparable homes in your area sell for. Sometimes, you’ll need an appraisal, especially if you’ve added unusual features of value to the home.
Don’t put the property on the market at an overpriced rate. Make it comparable to similar houses in your subdivision or on your street. Do set a price that will allow you to negotiate.
Getting Your Home Ready to Sell
This step can begin at any point. Remove and pack up all personal items, from pictures of your family to those personal items that linger throughout the home. Potential buyers want to see the bare bones of the rooms so they can envision putting their own personal items there. This is often the most difficult part of packing, as memories of great times are sure to flood in.
You’ll likely be asked to leave when your realtor schedules a showing and this is for the best. Potential buyers are vocally critical of many features, even those that are your favorites. Avoid offensive remarks by letting your realtor handle the showings. This is true for open houses too.
Take heart, soon your home will be SOLD and you can move on to a new place with a new lease on life.
