Home Sellers: Know THIS Before You Sell
Selling a home can be a much more complicated process than many home sellers expect. There are many steps to the process and several ways that you can speed it along by being prepared.
Follow these 9 steps home sellers can take to ensure that your home selling process is a smooth one:
- You don’t have to upgrade everything
It can be easy to start to feel like you need to update and upgrade your entire house to find a buyer fast, however that isn’t true. Look for areas that don’t require a big investment but make a drastic change on the appearance of you house. Clean up your landscaping and update things like knobs, handles, light fixtures and faucets. The kitchen and bathroom are great places to make some updates.
- The appraiser is impartial
You will not convince the appraiser to give your house a better value. They have been trained and licensed to provide impartial values to the features in your home. Once you have completed any improvements that you will be making the decision is out of your hands.
- Cleaning and staging make a difference
At the very least home sellers should thoroughly declutter and clean your house before your house is photographed for the listing; and then you should keep it like that until you move out.
However, if you can afford professional staging it goes along way. Many staged homes not only sell faster than un-staged homes, but for more money as well. Remove your personal taste from the house and make it appeal to the wide variety of potential buyers that will walk through the front door.
- Know your timing
There are certain times of year when houses sell faster than others. Summer is a popular time for families with children to move because it is in between the school years, which leads to easier transitions. If your house is located in an area with a great school district, do not miss the opportunity to sell to those families trying to get in.
Overall, the majority of homes sell in spring and summer, but talk with a local real estate agent to find out the best time to list your house so it will sell fast. Houses that sit on the market for a long time lose their appeal to buyers even if there is nothing wrong with it.
- Work the plan
When home sellers are getting ready to sell you should establish a plan of what you work you will do to help your house sell. Establish what projects are worth the time and financial investment and then complete them.
- Update that listing
Whether your house has been on the market for two weeks or two years it is important to keep your listing up to date. Any improvements that have been made to the house or property should be reflected in the listing.
Read over the description and think of anything that is missing that might entice a buyer to want to find out more information. What sold you on the house in the first place? Be sure to include those features in your listing.
- Buyers want that dream home
Find out what features make your home someone else’s dream home and use it to make the sale. What aspects have others mentioned that they love about your home? Make sure to include any of these details in your listing and to draw positive attention to them during showings and open houses. If people love your kitchen take some time to stage it properly to show it off.
- Schedule the home inspection
The majority of home inspections find something to mention in the report. If you are ready to sell, schedule your own home inspection to find the problems before potential buyers spot them. Being proactive in this area will only save you money in the long run.
- Take a deep breath
The home selling process can be a stressful one. There will be times when you might think it isn’t worth the process. Remind yourself during the process that it will all be worth it when you are out from under your home and moved on.
All home sellers want to sell their house quickly, but that is not always the case. The selling process can seem long and tedious, but having a proper plan will help you along the way. Before you know it you will be placing a sold sign outside of your house.