Selling Your Home (Like a Pro)
Considering selling your home and moving on to the next adventure? Whatever your reason, these steps will get you from “thinking about it” to “closing check in hand”.
Getting to Know Your Market
The first item to sort out is the value of your home. This is best achieved through a Comparable Market Analysis (CMA) — a summation of recent home sales activity similar to your own. Knowing the price band, how long the home is likely to stay on market, and what features stand out are key to developing a stellar marketing strategy.
Preparing Your Home for Sale
Now that we have the price range for your home, the next step is to prepare it for sale. While each home deserves unique attention prior to listing for sale, there are a few go-to recommendations to maximize your value.
Thorough Cleaning
Nothing sells better than neat and tidy. Organized pantries, toys stowed away, last night’s dishes either put away or in the dishwasher — steps like these ensure your home is presented in the best possible light.
Fresh Coat of Paint
Over time, coats of paint tend to lose their luster. Bringing another layer of paint to the party helps the home “pop” and feel fresh.
Landscaping Looks Sharp
This is as simple as pulling weeds and laying a fresh layer of mulch in landscaped portions of the yard. If you are selling in winter you don’t need to worry about this, but if you have a beautiful garden or pool area you want to highlight, make sure it is looking its best prior to showings.
Putting the Plan into Action
Now is the time for all of your preparation to pay off! With a proper marketing plan in place you will hopefully have showings pre-scheduled before the home goes live on the market. Open houses, brochures hand-delivered to neighbors, and distribution of pertinent information to local real estate brokers will hopefully all culminate into that beautiful four-letter word: SOLD!
From Contract to Close
Congratulations! Your home is now under contract. In residential real estate transactions, this is often when the buyer will conduct an inspection of the home to ensure everything is up to snuff. Sometimes the purchase is contingent on the inspection, meaning the buyers have a period of time to rescind their offer if they don’t like what they find.
Once any contingencies are lifted, the contract is officially in full effect and the process proceeds towards closing. If the buyers are acquiring financing an appraisal will need to be scheduled, which is the lending institution’s way of confirming the home is worth what the buyers are paying. You will also interact with a title company or attorney, who will handle the closing paperwork and ensure all the i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed for legal transfer of title (the document stating you own the home and have the ability to sell it).
Final Thoughts
Your home is sold and you are free to move onto whatever adventure awaits! If this process feels a bit daunting, not to worry — real estate professionals specialize in assisting folks with their real estate transactions every day. Find someone you like and trust, who specializes in your market and knows the area. They will protect your interests with their expertise and light the way with their experience. Selling your home doesn’t have to be stressful — with the right broker by your side, the process is made simple.
