Many people selling a home are either doing it for the first time or haven’t done it in more than a decade or so. The selling process has changed in today’s market, so I wanted to give an updated reminder about the process for anyone thinking about selling in the near future.
It all comes down to price, condition, and exposure.
Great exposure comes with the help of a great agent who can demonstrate the exposure that they’ll get you on your home. What kind of ads are they going to run, where are they going to advertise, and how frequently? Next, your agent should guide you on pricing your home appropriately. They need to look at what has sold in the last six months and what is for sale in today’s market. Finally, there’s condition, which needs to be excellent. Your house needs to be neat, clean, and showable.
When you’re ready for showings, again, make sure it’s neat and clean, and turn on all possible lights. It’s better if you’re not around during showings so that buyers feel comfortable. When you get an offer, remember that the goal is to sell the home! The offer will probably be a little less than asking price, and they might ask you to pay some closing costs and the cost of a home warranty. A warranty is only $500, so don’t let that deter you from getting a contract.
Once you have an agreement, the next step is getting the inspection, which normally occurs within 10 days of the agreement. Make sure it’s neat and clean still so they can fall in love with the home all over again. Next comes the appraisal process, when you have to sell the agreed-upon value once again.
Once the appraisal is done, you can start packing. Be prepared so that the day you go to closing, the truck is packed, and you can sign the paperwork and move into your new home. It sounds like a lot for one day, but that’s normal for our market. When you go to closing, the buyer will be present with their agent. There will likely only be one attorney present, and that’s paid for by the buyer.
If you have any more questions about either selling or buying a home in today’s market, give me a call. I’d be glad to help you.