Do you need to sell your home, but don’t know where to start? Don’t worry; you’re not alone.
With so many details involved in the process of selling a home, it can be hard to keep track of everything, from preparing your house for sale to finding and hiring an agent who will help you get top dollar for your property and negotiate with any buyers who make offers on your house.
If you’re thinking about selling your home, this ultimate guide will help you understand everything that goes into the process and how to get started today!
How to Price Your Home
To sell your home, you’ll first need to figure out its value. Luckily, that’s one of the easiest things you can do. To begin, think about how much you paid for your home when you bought it and how much you think it’s worth now (you should already have an idea; if not, check similar homes in your area).
If those two numbers aren’t very close (like $200k apart), that’s OK; just go with what you believe. That number is called your estimated market value . It may seem weird—and risky—to price your own home , but remember: You know it better than anyone else does.
A professional realtor is also a vital part of pricing your home to sell. Real estate agents know exactly how to generate buyer interest and get your listing moving on the market.
Save Money on Remodeling Before Listing
If you plan on selling soon, it’s wise to save money on remodeling projects before listing your home. A recent survey by Remodeling Magazine revealed that most homeowners expect their homes will sell for more after undergoing upgrades.
Specifically, 37 percent said they plan to spend up to $5,000 and 19 percent are planning between $5,000 and $10,000 of improvements. This can be incredibly costly in terms of time if you have to take care of these tasks yourself instead of hiring a professional who is equipped with tools and know-how required for success.
Before beginning any renovations or building projects at your house, hire professionals such as so they can give you a rough estimate of how much each project would cost in both time and money. At least then you won’t be caught off guard when an offer comes along.
What Makes a House Harder to Sell?
There are many factors that can make your house harder to sell. It’s no secret that if you wait too long, then your house can get dated and even unlivable if you don’t keep it up.
But there are other things about your home that could be keeping it off of real estate agent’s radars. Here are three reasons why your home might not be selling as quickly as you think it should.
1) It is priced too high:
We covered this earlier when we talked about pricing your home to sell. You need to make sure you do just that! A savvy buyer’s agent will not let his clients take an extreme price unless the market is crazy or the house is one that the buyers just won’t let go of.
2) Your home is extremely unique:
If you have a luxury home or a home that is in a very unique or in a particularly unique location, it can be harder to sell. Being patient is an asset in this case. Don’t worry, there is a buyer for every home!
3) You did not bring your A-game when staging:
You only get one chance to make a first impression! It’s important to stage your home so it looks warm, inviting, and welcoming to the potential buyers that are coming to the showings.
Don’t Forget Outside Space!
One of the biggest draws for prospective buyers is outdoor space, so you need to make sure yours is given equal billing. If you have an established garden, consider hiring someone (or enlisting your kids) to spruce it up with some fresh mulch and flowers.
Likewise, if you don’t have a yard or aren’t much of a green thumb, a simple trip to your local nursery can produce big results at low cost. You can even pull out large pieces of furniture from storage to give your outdoor area a roomier feel; just be sure to remove them once showings begin!
Learn From Others’ Mistakes
According to The Wall Street Journal, four out of five homeowners underestimate how long it will take to sell their homes.
Getting an accurate home-sale timeline is incredibly important, especially if you’re selling your property at a peak time such as spring or summer. So, before you list your home, consider learning from other people’s mistakes and talking with other sellers in your area about what they learned while selling their homes.
You can also ask friends, family members and colleagues who have sold their homes recently for tips.
Choose the Right Agent For You
If you’re looking to sell your home, it’s important that you choose an agent who knows how to list homes and sell them. If you want people to fall in love with your home, think about how a buyer would approach it and try thinking from their perspective.
A buyer wants—and needs—to know exactly what they’re getting into before they even set foot inside. Make sure potential buyers can see everything they need to see, but don’t forget: curb appeal counts too! You may have been living in your home for years, but a new homeowner has no reason to assume anything beyond cleanliness and safety.
Every inch of space counts here; get rid of anything that doesn’t have purpose (for example: old toys or boxes of paperwork). A good agent will be able to help you with all the details. Here’s a few other necessary skills that your real estate agent needs to have.
1) Marketing your property:
Make sure your agent is tech-savvy and knows how to use the proper channels and platforms to market your home.
2) Negotiating the best deal for you:
One of the biggest value adds that a realtor can provide for you is the ability to negotiate on your behalf to get you the best and highest price for the sale of your home. Make sure they are excellent negotiators.
3) Be consistent and communicative:
Make sure you choose a realtor that is available and consistent with what they say they are going to do.
Tips To Host An Open House Like A Pro
Open houses can be a great way to get your home noticed and sold—but in order for them to be effective, you have to make sure you do them right. Follow these tips, and it’ll be easier than ever before. The first rule of hosting an open house is…
Make sure there’s actually something to see!
It might seem counterintuitive, but when we’re looking at our options in a competitive market, we want to see lots of homes. And if yours looks like no one lives there or that no one has cleaned it since 1974? We don’t care how good of a deal you think you are offering.
Set up food.
Even if you’re not doing a full-blown roast with family coming over—just having some fresh cookies on hand or chips and salsa creates that oh-so-necessary comfort factor.
Let everyone know what they can expect during their visit.
Start by letting people know that they should wear walking shoes, as they will likely be walking through several rooms and areas within your home.
Prepping Your Home For Sale
After you’ve decided that it’s time to sell your home, it’s important to prepare for an open house. Buyers will evaluate every aspect of your home, inside and out. If your lawn looks like a jungle, fix it. If paint is peeling off exterior walls, repaint them.
Do small upgrades—even minor improvements can be attractive and make buyers feel confident in their purchase decision. That doesn’t mean spending money on expensive or unnecessary projects; just doing some research online before going to buy furniture or carpeting might help you save money.
And although hiring professionals may seem like an extravagance, if something needs professional attention (like painting), consider getting help from experts instead of trying to do it yourself. The last thing you want is unexpected expenses when selling your home!
Let’s Connect!
As a professional real estate agent and consultant, I know exactly what it takes to get your home sold quickly, and for the BEST possible price. Fill out the form below and let’s get your home on the market!