The idea of selling your house might be a thing you haven’t though of until you realize the need to do it. Most often, if not, the convincing reason is the need to move — either because of work or a growing family — and that usually involves buying a new house. And just like other things you’d do for the first time, there are the basics of selling a house, too.
Elizabeth Weintraub in her article for The Balance , gave some tips for first time house seller.
Ask your agent to advise you on preparing your home for sale. Most homes show better with about half of the furniture removed. If a buyer walks in the door and wonders if anybody lives in the house, you’ve done your job correctly. Consider home staging to boost your selling power and appeal. Painting is the single most effective improvement you can make. Don’t let dings in the woodwork or scraps on the walls make your home reflect deferred maintenance.
Be Flexible With Home Showings
If home showings are too much of an imposition, consider going away the first weekend your home is on the market. Yes, it can feel a bit intrusive to allow strangers to trek through your home and check out your soft-closing drawers in the kitchen. The best way to sell your home is to let a buyer inside with her buyer’s agent to tour in peace and quiet. Leave the house when buyer’s agents show up. Anything you say can and will be used against you, plus, buyer’s agents prefer to show without interference.
Insist on Professional PhotographyOf course, if you have hired a top-notch listing agent, your agent most likely already provides professional photos. It’s not enough to just get the angle right in the photo, the most popular photos are rich in color and depth, and they entice. Ask to approve the virtual tour or photo tour before it publishes.
Respond Promptly to a Purchase Offer
Try to respond promptly to a purchase offer. Many offers contain a date by which the offer expires. Notwithstanding, it can drive buyers crazy if they are forced to wait for a seller to decide whether to accept their offer or to issue a counteroffer. Remember, if you are selling because you need to buy a new home, you are no different when you are a home buyer yourself. More information here.
For a regular homeowner, selling a house could be something of a once in a lifetime situation, thus, there is no experience nor the know-hows. Selling a home is a far cry from buying one. While the latter generally involves feelings and emotions, the former often centers on maximizing profit potential.
The same author above also discusses how to avoid losing money when selling your house. And here’s some on the list.
Hire an Experienced Listing Agent
Sometimes sellers want to hire agents who charge lower commissions to save money, and that’s often the wrong approach. Say the difference between two agents is one percent of the sales price. If an experienced agent who offers you more marketing and better service charges one percent more than a competitor but brings you 10 percent more in profit, you’re further ahead. You might even lose money if you hire a cheaper agent who offers you less!
The longer your home sits on the market, the less it is worth in a buyer’s eyes. Don’t try to test the market or you could end up losing money. If you price the home in line with the comparable sales, you will get buyers interested enough to see it.
Prepare Your Home for SaleIt might cost a little bit of money to get your home ready for market, but the return should far outweigh the expense. Set aside an amount you can afford for repairs and for sprucing up the place.
Examine Fees in the Sales ContractBuried in the paperwork in your 10- to 20-page offer will be a list of fees the buyers and sellers will pay. In addition, the buyer might ask for additional inspection reports or even a seller concession toward closing costs. All of these costs are negotiable. If the buyer asks for 3 percent toward closing costs, consider increasing the sales price to compensate. More details here.
Indeed, selling your house is a tedious task. Like what the article had refereed, it is best to consult a professional to help you and ease the burden it entails. Still not convinced hiring an agent? Worry not as Dependable Homebuyers can help you! We buy houses, whatever its state may be!