When you sell a house, you have two goals in mind. You want to sell your house fast and you want to bring in the biggest return on your investment. Understanding the home selling process can help build a successful experience.
Have a Pre-Appraisal
The buyer’s lender will want an appraisal done once you accept an offer, but you may want to get a pre-appraisal, or listing appraisal, done before you set the asking price. This appraisal can alert you to possible opportunities to increase the value of your home through renovations and upgrades. The numbers returned by the appraiser will give you a more accurate idea of the value of your property and help you set an asking price that makes sense and will catch the attention of potential home buyers.
Stage It
You’ll want to create an appealing environment for buyers by helping them see themselves living in the home. Use neutral colors with pops of color to create interest but be careful of using colors that are distracting. Remove all personal photographs and collections. You may want to hire a professional staging agent to help with this part of the selling process. However, keep in mind that staging doesn’t have to be expensive. There are many small things you can do to stage that won’t break the bank.
Choose the Right Agent
You want a real estate agent that communicates at the highest level and has experience selling homes like yours. We would love to talk with you about selling your property. We can provide you with a comprehensive report that gives you insight on setting the asking price for the area. Start by getting a general idea with our online home valuation calculator. We’ll also create a marketing plan that puts your listing in front of as many potential buyers as possible.
Price It Right
We’ve mentioned the importance of setting your asking price, but why is this such a critical point in listing your home? If you set your asking price too high, you risk having your home sit on the market for longer than needed. When this happens, buyers assume there is some good reason the home is not selling, and you may lose out on a sale. Setting your asking price too low can cost you money that could have helped with your move or the purchase of a new home.
Market It
We spend a lot of time on our phones and other mobile devices, so it makes sense that potential buyers are looking for homes just like yours using online searches. You’ll want to make sure you have professional photographs that present your property in the best light possible. These are usually the first things a buyer sees online, and those photos can make the difference between them wanting to take a closer look or move on to the next search option. Social media is also a valuable marketing method. We’ll help you put together a plan that works for your property.
Offer a Home Warranty
When you consider that the purchase of a home is a big decision for buyers that requires a level of trust, you may want to offer a home warranty with the sale of your home. A home warranty can be a cost-effective way to build this kind of trust because it offers protection for the buyer in the event that something needs repaired or replaced within the first year. Home warranties typically cover things like appliances and systems.
Allow for Various Financing: FHA, VA, Conventional, Seller
While you want to offer potential buyers options for financing when it comes to home loans to help them purchase your property, you’ll want to understand some of the differences between loans. A conventional loan is secured through a mortgage loan company or bank. These loans usually require a down payment that is about 20 percent of the selling price of the home. A VA loan is guaranteed by the Veterans Administration and is available to those who are active military or veterans. An FHA loan is guaranteed by the Federal Housing Authority and is meant to help those with a lower income. Down payments for these loans are usually lower than those for conventional loans. Of course, if you are in the position to do so, you may choose to finance the home yourself.
Negotiate Offers
With a real estate agent on your side, this part of the home selling process is much easier. Why? Because a real estate agent is a skilled negotiator who represents your interest in all offer negotiations. We let you know when an offer is received. You can accept, decline, or send back a counter offer. We’ll listen to your needs and speak on your behalf.