Steps to Selling Your Home
So you think it’s time to sell your home? Perhaps you’ve heard homes are selling fast? Full House Real Estate is here to give you the steps to selling your home
Let’s start with…Selling a home requires work and time. The journey isn’t always easy. However, there may be frustrations when you seal the deal and move on to your next chapter; that feeling of completion and success is fantastic. Now let’s get started on the steps to selling your home.
Research, do your homework
The housing market has changed since you became a homeowner. Factors such a fluctuating Mortgage rates, inventory availability, are just a few of the factors that affect the state of the market; remember, every real estate market is unique.
Selecting a Realtor
Choosing your Realtor is the most important relationship you’ll form on your home selling journey! You want to choose the right Realtor. The Realtor you hire matters! You want a Realtor who not only will listen to your needs but will quickly walk you through the process with his/her experience and knowledge of the current real estate market and will likely get a better sales price for your house.
Pricing Your Home
How much is your home worth in today’s market. Your Realtor can offer you a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis); this shows you what houses similar to yours are selling for and gives you an idea of where you should price your home
Prepping Your Home for Sale
Now for the WORK part of this journey. In today’s market, homebuyers have access to endless property listings via online sources such as Zillow, Realtor.com, and so on. You have to make a great first impression! Declutter, we cannot stress that enough, years of stuff can be an eyesore to others, simple is better! Make any necessary repairs, leaky faucets, holes in the wall, torn carpet, and so on. A clean, decluttered, repaired home with lots of curb appeal will likely raise your chances you will sell quickly. Imagine you’re on a first date or a job interview with your home now. You are enticing someone to want to live in your home, and you are putting your best foot forward to get your home sold.
Market Your Home
Your Realtor should have an idea of how he/she intends to market your home. It’s easy enough to throw a listing into the MLS (Multiple Listing Sales) and take a wait and see attitude, but homebuyers look at countless listings online. The best-marketed homes have beautiful photos and compelling property descriptions.
Receiving Offers
Your home is now active; in this current real estate market, if you’ve put the work in and made your home “best in show” you will likely receive multiple offers. Your Realtor will review the offers and determine which is best for you and why. Remember, price isn’t’ the only factor to consider. Your Realtor will break down the pros and cons of the offer.
Negotiate With the Buyer
To get the best deal for you, you’ll likely have to do some negotiating. Your Realtor will help you craft a strategic counteroffer to the buyer’s offer, factoring in not only money but contingencies.
Negotiate Home Inspection Repairs
You’re officially under contract! Now it’s time for the home inspection. This can have its stressful moments for any seller or buyer. Most purchase agreements are contingent on a home inspection (plus an appraisal, managed by the buyer’s lender). The home inspection gives the buyer the ability to inspect the home from top to bottom and request repairs; you have some room to negotiate, including certain repairs. Your Realtor will be there to help you effectively communicate with the buyer.
Close the Sale aka CLOSING DAY!
Closing is the last step in the home selling process. When you sign the final paperwork, make this whole thing official, and hand over the keys and collect your check. Before that can happen, though, you’ll have to prepare your home for the buyer’s final walk-through and troubleshoot any last-minute issues. Your Realtor should have a checklist of must-dos from the buyer that was previously negotiated between both sides. Remember, you and your Realtor are a team, and the goal is closing the sale.
