Now that you’ve decided to put your home up for sale on the market, it’s time to think about how to proceed. Selling a home typically follows a particular guideline, so making yourself familiar with what to expect down the road ahead will prevent any surprises. Check out these six steps to selling a house before you take your first step as a home seller.
Step 1 – Real Estate Agent
There’s more to the sale of a home than just placing a “for sale” sign in your front yard. A real estate agent has years of experience and training to help you get the most return on your investment. They are there to guide you through what can be a stressful time for a lot of people. Don’t worry about trying to figure out the legal terms, paperwork, and marketing to get your home sold. Handling those things are the purpose of real estate agents and they are more than happy to help you every step of the way.
Step 2 – Show Ready Home
Buyers respond well to homes that offer a warm, inviting, ambiance. Take some time to de-clutter and deep clean your home before any listing photos are taken. Replace worn out items and consider repainting bold color choices to more neutral tones. You want a buyer to fall in love with your property they moment they see it, and staging your home is the best way to make that happen. Keep it clean and in pristine shape at all times while your home is on the market because you never know when a potential buyer will be dropping by to check it out.
Step 3 – Your Asking Price
Ideally, your home will sell for more than what you initially paid for and invested. However, with an ever-changing and fickle housing market that may not be the case. Keep an open mind when talking to your real estate agent about what the ideal asking price is for your home. They can provide you with a comprehensive report detailing the value of your property based on several different factors. Carefully consider all variables and listen to your agent’s advice before setting your asking price.
Step 4 – Marketing Your Listing
Part of your real estate agent’s job is to make sure that your home listing reaches as many potential buyers as it can. There are several resources available to your agent, and they will have a plan set up for how to best take advantage of all of them. You want your home to stand out against all the comparable homes in the area and grab the attention of buyers. Talk with your agent about what their plan includes as far as photography, staging, open houses, and online marketing.
Step 5 – Inspections and Contracts
Once a buyer has submitted an offer to your real estate agent, and you’ve accepted, it’s time to prepare for the finishing touches. First, an agreement will be signed between you and the buyer that states the sale terms. After that, their mortgage lender will order several inspections and an appraisal of the property. You revisit the terms of the deal if a problem arises during an investigation of the home. If all goes well, you’re one step closer to closing day.
Step 6 – Closing Time When Selling a House
Closing day is when you will sign all the final pieces of paperwork and pay any outstanding fees. Typically, this is also the day that you will hand over the keys to your now former property. Once you’ve signed on the dotted line for the final time, it’s time to celebrate successfully selling your home!
Your real estate agent is the best source of information about the local community and real estate topics. Give The Scott Loper Team a call today at 267-446-3084 to learn more about local areas, discuss selling a house, or tour available homes for sale.
