SELLING A HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME:
REAL ESTATE TIPS
Master the art of home selling: Close deals like a pro and leave a lasting impression
In spite of the time and energy you will need to devote to this process, you can save on real estate costs when you follow pro tips. It is common for homeowners to pay a commission of up to 6% to both the selling agent and the listing agent. FSBO may cut the cost in half on a $350,000 house – that’s $21,000.
The Cleaning And Decluttering Process
Having too much clutter in your home can turn away potential buyers and make your home appear unattractive. Cleaning and organizing your home before listing it for sale is a wise idea. An analysis by HomeLight found that this step could increase the value of the home by $4,310. Furthermore, you might be more inclined to enjoy the house while you are still living there.
Make sure you take care of each part of the house: the basement, the living room, the bedrooms, etc. You will want to organize your items into three piles: to keep, to sell, and to donate. Give your entire home a deep cleaning, and organize the items you keep.
Get The House Staged And Photographed
When you stage your home, you arrange furniture and decorations to emphasize the home’s strengths, which helps the buyer visualize themselves living there. Home sellers report that staging their homes adds up to 10% to their home’s value.
You may also be able to get a better deal on your home if you hire a professional photographer after you have staged it. Adding high-quality photography to a listing can increase its value by $3,000 – $11,000.
Pricing Your Home
Find out how much your property is worth using our Pricing Scout. The tool provides an estimate of market value as well as a summary of nearby comparable sales.
If you want to be sure you’re on target, you can perform your own comparative market analysis. It is advisable for home sellers to gather information about recent home sales in the last three to six months and focus their search on homes within a half-mile radius. To help guide your listing price, calculate the cost per square foot.
Make Sure You Prepare And Repair
Home Marketing
A home that is listed online should have captivating property descriptions and drool-worthy pictures, placed strategically so that the listing will get the most exposure online. The listing packages can be tailored to fit your needs and budget, as well as help you create a great marketing plan.
Decide which online listing option is best for you when developing your marketing strategy. Next, create an appealing ad that shows high-quality photos of your home’s features.
Putting “For Sale” signs out front, inviting your friends to share, and blasting the listing online are all important.
Scheduling A Showing
Make a schedule for your showings using a calendar. Your home should be spotless and pets should be out of sight, so you should offer as many time slots as possible to buyers. Make a plan for gathering visitors’ feedback so your future open houses will be more successful. Advertise your open house dates on social media and share them on your website.
Sale Negotiations
Your home is almost sold! It’s time to negotiate with an interested buyer. Find a real estate lawyer who can assist you with all the paperwork coming your way using our Find a Pro feature.
You should decide whether to negotiate online or in person and what minimum price you will accept. Consider updating your comparative market analysis if your home has been on the market for some time, as well as developing a negotiation strategy.
Deal Closure
A proposal has been made to you. Despite the fact that your attorney will complete the paperwork and provide state-specific forms, disclosures, and contracts, you will want to familiarize yourself with the legal forms in our Real Estate Forms & Guides section. Find out the exact amount of your mortgage payoff by contacting your mortgage company.
It will be your responsibility to work with your buyer’s appraiser and inspector during closing. A revised offer may be submitted once. It is part of the negotiation process.
The contract should be reviewed once all concessions and prices have been agreed upon. Hire a title agency to provide a closing venue and close the sale using our Find a Pro feature. The closing date should be agreed upon by you and the seller, and closing costs should be covered.
As soon as the nitty-gritty is out of the way and you have a closing date, it’s time to take care of yourself! Gather any warranty paperwork for the buyer, hire a moving company, and cancel your utilities. You’re only a few steps away from embarking on your next adventure after you hand over the keys! As long as you have the right tools, you can sell your home successfully on your own.