Step 1: Get Professional Help – Hire an Agent
Selling your home is a major financial decision, so why tackle it alone? You wouldn’t hesitate to hire professionals for tasks like taxes, plumbing, hair styling, or legal matters – so why not enlist expert help for something as important as selling your home? According to the National Association of Realtors, sellers who work with a REALTOR® sell their homes faster and for more money, even after accounting for the agent’s commission.
Partner with experience. I’ll guide you every step of the way, offering expert advice to ensure a smooth and stress-free process.
Step 2: Prepare Your Home
I’ll walk through your home with you, offering personalized suggestions to help you get it ready for the market.
- Declutter and Depersonalize: Remove personal items and excess furniture to make your space feel larger and more inviting. Renting a storage unit for seldom-used items can help clear up space.
- Do the Smell Test: Buyers are sensitive to odors from pets, mildew, tobacco, or certain foods. Eliminate unpleasant smells with air fresheners, and make sure your home is odor-free. Clean the cat’s litter box daily, avoid smoking indoors, and address any other sources of bad smells.
- Clean Thoroughly: Every corner of your home should be spotless, from windows to floors. This attention to detail will make a great impression on potential buyers.
- Make Necessary Repairs: Fix any small issues, like leaky faucets, loose doorknobs, or peeling paint. The cost of these minor repairs will be much less than the boost they provide to your home’s sale price.
- Enhance Curb Appeal: Buyers form opinions about your home before even stepping inside. Mow the lawn, trim bushes, and weed the garden. Freshen up the front porch with a coat of paint, pressure washing, or seasonal touches like a wreath or pots of flowers.
- Clean the Garage & Closets: Clear out your garage and closets, making them appear larger. Use your rented storage space for seasonal items and donate anything you no longer need.
- Stage Your Home: Arrange furniture to highlight your home’s best features and create a welcoming atmosphere. After completing the steps above, we’ll walk through your home again to make any final adjustments.
Step 3: Determine Your Home’s Market Value
While you’re preparing your home, I’ll conduct a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to evaluate homes in your area that have recently sold. This helps us determine your home’s competitive market value. I’ll make adjustments based on factors like your home’s size, features, and condition compared to similar properties.
What if There Are No Comparable Properties?
If your property is unique and doesn’t have direct comparisons, hiring a professional appraiser can provide an accurate valuation.
Step 4: Market Your Home
- Get Professional Photography: High-quality photos are crucial. I’ll hire a professional photographer to capture your home at its best.
- Craft a Compelling Listing Description: I’ll write a listing description that highlights your home’s key features to attract potential buyers.
- Multi-Channel Marketing: Your home will be featured on major real estate websites, social media platforms, and especially retargeting ads. I’ll also create a dedicated website for your listing to drive additional interest and provide easy access to information.
- Host Open Houses: I’ll start with an agent-only open house to gather feedback and fine-tune our strategy. We’ll then host a public open house to attract potential buyers.
Step 5: Show Your Home
- Be Flexible with Showings: The more accessible you make your home for showings, the quicker it will sell. Flexibility is key to attracting serious buyers.
- Create a Welcoming Atmosphere: Turn on all the lights, bake cookies, and play soft music to set a warm and inviting tone. Make sure pets are either kenneled or removed from the home during showings.
- Provide Information Packets: I’ll prepare informational flyers or brochures about your home and neighborhood, and you can create an “INFO” binder with essential details like HOA information, appliance manuals, recent utility bills, and more. I’ll help you organize this.
Step 6: Review and Negotiate Offers
Once offers start rolling in, we’ll carefully evaluate each one. We’ll consider the offer price, contingencies, and the buyer’s financial qualifications. I’ll provide a net proceeds estimate that deducts all your expenses, including mortgage payoff, REALTOR® fees, and taxes.
- Negotiate Terms: If necessary, we’ll make counteroffers. I’ll negotiate on your behalf to secure the best deal.
- Accept the Best Offer: Choose the offer that best aligns with your goals, timeline, and any other needs.
Step 7: You’re Under Contract!
Once you’ve accepted an offer, what comes next?
- Home Inspection and Lender’s Appraisal: The buyer will typically schedule an inspection. If issues arise, I’ll help you negotiate repairs. The lender will also schedule an appraisal to ensure the home’s value aligns with the agreed-upon price.
- Prepare for the Appraisal: Address any issues identified in the inspection to make sure your home is in optimal condition for the appraiser. Ensure your home is clean, fresh-smelling, and that pets or children are out of the way.
Step 8: Closing Time!
- Review the Closing Documents: We’ll go through the paperwork together, line by line, so you fully understand everything.
- Clear Contingencies: Let’s address any contractual requirements, like a termite inspection, well in advance to avoid last-minute delays.
- Get Ready to Close: Gather all necessary documents, including your photo ID and bank routing information for the wire transfer of your proceeds. If you’re also buying a new home, I’ll coordinate with the closing attorneys or title companies to ensure everything runs smoothly for both the sale and purchase.
- The Closing Meeting: At the closing table, you’ll sign the final paperwork, hand over the keys, and receive your sale proceeds. Time to celebrate!
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