Selling your home and moving to a new property is an exciting time, but it can be daunting if you have little experience or knowledge of the process. Selling a property involves many moving parts, so it’s important that you’re prepared and know what to expect. To help things run smoothly, here’s a complete guide to selling your home.
Hire a real estate agent
The first step to selling your home is to hire a real estate agent who knows the market. Obviously, you don’t have to hire an estate agent, but choosing to go solo will take you a lot more time and effort, and you could end up losing money on your house sale. An estate agent will be able to help you advertise your home widely, but if you’re looking for a faster sale, cash home buyers St Louis may offer a more efficient and convenient option. If you are looking for a home in the state of Florida talk to an agent at the Englewood Real Estate Homes for Sale in Fl.
The cost of hiring an agent is, therefore, usually recovered in the additional money gained from securing the highest offer possible. Bankrate.com advise that you should “research real estate agents sales history and professional qualifications, to ensure that you choose the right person to work with.”
Carry out necessary home improvements
Obviously you don’t want to spend lots of money carrying out unnecessary work on your home just before you sell it. However, some minor home improvements can massively enhance the visual appeal of your home, which increases its value and improves your chances of securing a quick sale. For example, carrying out some simple maintenance to your yard can instantly improve your curb appeal and make your property more attractive to potential buyers.
Repairing any wall damage and giving your interiors a new coat of paint is another quick and easy way to freshen up your home decor and give your property a more polished look. You should also ensure that you schedule any necessary repairs to things like plumbing, heating, and water systems before you list your house on the market. Any unresolved issues are likely to be picked up by potential buyers, and this may then affect your asking price. Fortunately, you can easily find local plumbers to carry out any repairs by searching ‘plumbers near me’ on comparison sites.
Get a pre-sale home inspection
Again, a pre-sale home inspection is optional, but it can be a great investment in the long run. The report will give you an overview of the condition of your home and identify any structural or mechanical problems with your property. You can then have any necessary repairs carried out on your home before you list it. If these issues aren’t resolved, then they are likely to be picked up by the buyers when they carry out their own inspections later down the line. They could lead to delays in the sales process and buyers trying to negotiate a lower asking price. For that reason, many people think that it’s worth getting a pre-sale home inspection before you sell your property.
List your house on the market
When it comes to listing your property, it’s crucial that you use professional high-quality photographs that showcase everything your home has to offer. Using poor quality photographs is likely to leave a bad impression on buyers and may discourage people from viewing your property. Once your home has been listed, make sure that you keep it clean and ready for viewings. Real estate agents also advise that you stage your home before selling. This includes things like – clearing clutter, giving your home a deep clean, removing personal belongings and unsightly items, and arranging rooms for optimal purpose. For more advice and tips, check out this useful guide on how to stage a home before selling.
Set a realistic price
It’s important that you set a realistic price for your home, or you risk being unable to sell it. You can do some research yourself to get an idea of a realistic asking price. You should start by completing a free online home value estimate. These use algorithms and real estate market data to give you an estimate of your property’s value. You can also get advice from your real estate agent on what your home is worth in the current market. Keep in mind that the price you get for your home won’t be the amount you get. You will have a number of additional costs such as taxes, real estate agent costs, and subtract fees, so make sure you factor these into account.
Take into consideration all of the above points to ensure that when the time comes to sell your house, you are fully prepared for the entire process. You will find that by taking the time to understand each aspect of the sale, it will make the process much smoother and more rewarding.