It’s no secret that moving can be one of the most stressful occasions of a person’s life. However, it can be especially difficult for homeowners, who first must sell their home before relocating. Just like buying a house, the process of selling a home is incredibly complex. Even though 78% of recent buyers found their real estate agent to be a very useful information source, it’s important for homeowners to have some semblance of knowledge before they can even think about adding their home to the real estate listings. Here are some essential steps of the home-selling process.
- How Much Is My Home Worth? Consider Your Area’s Market
First, consider the current real estate market in both your geographical area and your specific neighborhood. The real estate market ebbs and flows just like the tides, and understanding the current market is essential to putting your home up for sale at the right time of year and getting as much as you can for it. If you have further doubts, talk to not just one, but multiple industry professionals to develop the most well-rounded and informed sale price. - Get An Inspection
Many homeowners end up waiting too long to get their homes inspected and end up paying the price later — literally. Uninspected homes often get appraised for less because of the serious work that may need to be done on them. Even though buyers will inevitably get the home inspected before sealing the deal, a preemptive inspection can alert homeowners to potential repairs and damages that will affect the sale. - Invest In Small, Aesthetic Repairs
When it’s almost time to put your home on the market, invest in some small but necessary aesthetic updates to increase the value and market visibility of your home. These include giving rooms new coats of paint, pressure washing the outside of the home and porch, cleaning the windows, and replacing lighting. It’s also a good time to invest in small landscaping projects if you have the budget for it. If you’re unsure of other steps that can boost the appeal of your home, take the advice of Eric Tyson, co-author of ‘House Selling for Dummies’: “Maximize your chances of people being excited about your listing when it hits the market.”
Ultimately, taking the time to go through these initial steps will help you sell your home faster and more efficiently. Stay tuned for the next post, where we’ll discuss the next steps to take when selling a house.