From For Sale to Sold!
Once you’ve decided to sell, you’ll be thinking about a whole host of things, like how to get your home ready for sale, when to put it on the market (when is the best time of year to sell a home), and how much to ask for it. Our team can help you with all that and more!
Meanwhile, here are the steps to selling a home along with some suggestions that will help ensure your home sells fast and for top dollar.
1. Get Your Home Market Ready.
An attractive, well-maintained home will generally sell faster and for a higher price than a similar home that looks drab or poorly maintained. When you prepare your home for sale, take a critical look inside and out, your Realtor can assist you with this. Your first concern is the home’s exterior. If the outside, or “curb appeal” looks good, people will more than likely want to see what’s on the inside. You want the inside of your home to look as spacious, and as bright and clean as possible. Also the home should look neutral and clutter free.
2. Know the Market.
Your home will be competing with similar homes for sale in and around your neighborhood, so it’s a good idea to know which homes are on the market and what their asking prices are. Ask your agent for a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), this includes information on area homes currently available for sale as well as those which have recently sold. The CMA will help you and your agent to determine the fair market value of your home.
3. Price Your Home Correctly.
Listing your home at the right price is crucial to its eventual sale, and relying on the knowledge and experience of one of our agents will help you determine exactly what that price should be. Your agent will provide you with a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to show you where your home fits in with other, similar homes in your area. Pricing your home too high can discourage showings and offers from serious buyers. On the other hand, pricing your home too low won’t leave you much room to negotiate. Most homes sell at fair market value – not above it and that is why pricing is so important. Work with your agent to determine the best price for your home.
4. Locate and Hire a Realtor to Make Sure Your Home is Marketed Effectively.
Selling a home in today’s market requires visibility beyond a sign in the front yard and an ad in the newspaper. We are experts in marketing and can create maximum exposure for your home using the internet, direct mail, home books and other marketing tools. This unique combination of services means your home is actively marketed every single day until it’s sold. That’s our service guarantee!
5. Prepare for Showings and Open Houses.
Showings and Open Houses let potential buyers personally tour your home to see if it fits their lifestyle. Your goal should be to create an environment where potential buyers can visualize how the space will fit them. This includes removing clutter such as items from your kitchen counters, and arranging your furniture to create a simple, spacious appearance, so it’s easier for buyers to see themselves living there. Before each showing or open house you’ll want to meticulously clean the home, vacuum the home, put out fresh towels in the bathrooms, open all the blinds / curtains and let as much light in as possible, burning scented candles isn’t a bad idea however, room sprays should not be used. See Preparing your Home for Showings and Do Open Houses Work?
6. Negotiate the Terms of the Sale.
Buyers and sellers usually expect to negotiate the price and terms of a home sale. While this can be time consuming, you can speed the process up if you evaluate and respond to offers and counteroffers in a timely fashion. Our agents will help you handle every step of the negotiations, they are highly skilled in this art with many years of experience.
7. Sign the Purchase Agreement.
Once you and the buyer have agreed upon the terms of sale, it’s time to sign the purchase agreement. Your agent will review this document with you carefully, discussing it’s key points most of which will have been addressed during in the negotiations phase of the sale.
8. Review the Home Inspector’s Findings.
Most buyers will request a home inspection before completing the sale. Inspection results will be reviewed and if any serious issues are uncovered, buyers are likely to request repairs. As the seller, you should receive a written copy of the inspection report and a Request to Remedy in the event problems are found. Be sure to review both of these documents carefully so you understand the nature and extent of any problems, and repairs a buyer may request. Your agent will help you respond to the Request to Remedy, clearly stating what you will take care of, how you will take care of it and when.
9. Your Homes Appraisal.
An appraisal is simply an estimate of your home’s market value. It focuses on value (an estimation of the benefits of owning a particular home) and on price (the actual amount of money a buyer will pay). When you list your home up for sale, prospective buyers (and the lenders who hold or insure their mortgage(s)) expect that your home is worth your asking price. An appraisal for less than the asking price can complicate, or block, the sale.
10. Prepare for Closing.
The closing process involves an attorney or a representative from the title company, the buyer, listing and selling brokers, and often times you, the seller. This important meeting is the final phase, that is transferring the home from your possession to the new owner. Make sure you bring all keys, garage door openers, equipment warranties, instructions, and maintenance or operation information to hand over to the new owners.
Learn our group’s strategies for how to sell your home faster and for top dollar.
Or call us now at, 614.332.6984 and let help you achieve your real estate goals!
