Whether it’s your first time selling a house or you’ve done it multiple times, there will always be a few dozen things you need to check before you can list your home. Even if you live in a hot market, don’t think that the home selling process is easy and doesn’t require any preparation.
Before selling your home, whether for the first time or tenth, be sure that you consider the following factors.
1. Find a Great Realtor
Great realtors are worth their weight in gold. Be sure that you talk to established realtor and ask what they can do for you. Don’t be afraid to have high expectations for the agent you want to work with, especially when it comes to skill and character. While choosing a top producing realtor could help your chances of selling your home at the price you want, there are no guarantees. However, you should always watch out for realtors who promise to sell at the highest price, or promise the lowest commission.
2. Get a Home Inspection
While homebuyers typically seek their own home inspection before buying a house, getting one yourself allows you to gain insight into your home’s condition and any problems that should be fixed before putting it on the market.
Your home’s condition will also have an impact on how you price your property. If the inspector finds that your home is in great shape, this places you in a better position to demand a higher selling price. Conversely, if your home needs a few fixer-uppers, you can focus on selling its best qualities to get as best a price as you can.
3. Have All Paperwork and Documents Ready
Many sellers underestimate the sheer volume of paperwork and documents that need to be taken care of before selling a home.
Expect to come across the following documents in your selling journey:
- Paperwork for your roof age and applicable warranty
- Documents for your furnace’s age and instruction manuals
- Information and instruction manuals about your HVAC and water heating system
- Paperwork for any home improvement projects and additions
- Compliance permits
- Mortgage balance
These documents must be ready before your list your home, and will help realtors and buyers determine if your house is worth buying.
4. Time Your Listing Just Right
No two real estate markets are the same. Some cities and counties are known to get hot during the spring, while others offer more selling potential during the fall and winter months. If you’re not in any rush to sell your home, you can discuss your options with a realtor, who knows the best time to list your home. If that person insists on doing it now to get the best ROI, you may want to consider hiring that realtor.
Ultimately, this decision will boil down to what’s most convenient for you after considering all the pros and cons of selling in different times of the year. Again, your realtor will help you find perspective in this matter.
5. Find the Best Price for Your Home
Pricing will always be the deciding factor when selling a home. Your home’s initial price upon entering the market will do the job of marketing it for you, so you need to get it right the first time around. Do your research on the buyers in your neighborhood and city, get a home inspection so you know how what your home’s problems and selling points are, and don’t underestimate how informed buyers are these days. With homework, you should be able to find a pricing sweet spot.
If you need to sell your home right away and don’t have time for all these steps, sell it as is to Blue Hen Homebuyers! We buy properties in any condition. Contact our offices today at 910-802-2222 to learn more about how our services can help you.