One of the first questions that people ask themselves when preparing to sell a home is “Should I hire a Real Estate Agent?” If you are ready to sell your home there are a few things that you should know. The 2019 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers by the National Association of Realtors provided this information: “FSBOs typically sell for less than the selling price of other homes; FSBO homes sold at a median of $200,000 last year (the same as the year prior), and significantly lower than the median of agent-assisted homes at $280,000.”—see this link for more information. “For Sale By Owner” (FSBO) may seem like a good Idea, but you actually make more by hiring a Real Estate Professional, even with their commissions.

 

Here are 15 steps to prepare and sell your home!

 

1. Decide on Selling Via Agent or FSBO - We highly recommend selling using an Agent. Our Agents have an understanding of how the Real Estate market fluctuates and they will help you to get the best value for your home and help you sell faster. It is also likely that any buyers will be using a Real Estate Agent, so commissions are often included anyway.

 

2. Get a Free Comparative Market Analysis – You can get a free Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) and free Sellers’ Consultation from one of our listing experts! The CMA will let you know the current market value of your home based on comparable sales in the area, and the consultation will include marketing strategies, a recommended selling timeline, and a chance to learn about the selling process.

 

3. Hire an Agent – Check out our Agents and interview some of them to find out who is a good fit for you and the type of property you have. On top of additional marketing strategies, they will provide you with a step-by-step walkthrough to selling your home. Our Real Estate Agents will expand upon your CMA to let you know the best time to sell in your area, so that you can time your sale for the most profit. They can also inform you of how long comparable houses were/are on the market before closing.

 

4. Set a Timeline – With the help of your Agent you can know when in the year it’s a seller’s market for your area and sell at an optimal time. Setting a timeline will help you and your Agent be on the same page moving toward your goals.

 

5. Clean – This may be the most time-consuming portion of selling your home. Having a clean home gives potential buyers a good first impression. A clean home is attractive and lets buyers know that you have taken care of the home.

 

6. Inspect – Buyers will often get a home inspection; this means that a licensed professional comes out and determines the condition of many aspects of the house. They then receive a detailed report and have the opportunity to make their complaints to you as a seller. Paying for a pre-inspection will alert you to any repairs that need to be done and simplify the negotiation process between you and potential buyers.

 

7. Repair and Touch Up – If you did get an inspection take care of any major repairs. Another way to improve potential buyers’ impressions of your home is to touch up paint, patch holes, and other complete other minor repairs you may have put off over time. Adding small things like new cabinet hardware, changing light fixtures, replacing shower curtains, and updating faucets are inexpensive ways to improve that first impression

 

8. Stage Ready – You can hire a professional stager to stage your home, or you can take the time to declutter and remove personal effects (family photos etc.). Rearranging your furniture to highlight the best aspects of your home will draw buyers’ attention, even if it is inconveniencing to you for a short time. Help potential buyers imagine living in your home.

 

9. Temporary Storage – Taking personal effects out of your home can be difficult and it can make your home feel sterile, but it does help with potential buyers’ impressions. If you don’t have space for those personal items you might invest in a temporary storage unit to store items in until you have moved.

 

10. Up the Curb Appeal – The exterior is the first thing a potential buyer sees of your home (in person or online), and by maintaining the lawn, trimming hedges, edging, cleaning siding and sidewalks, and planting flowers you can make your home that much more inviting.

 

11. Get Photos – Your Agent can help you procure professional photos for your listing. All of the work that you have done in cleaning and staging your home up to this point have prepared you for the picture-perfect photos that will draw potential buyers to your home.

 

12. Set a Price and List Your Home – Working with your Agent to set a realistic list price is vital in the sale of your home. While setting your list price don’t forget these variables: sale costs, the current market, personal debts, and repairs that buyers may request. Next, list your home!

 

13. Showings – The worst part of selling your home can be showings. You’ll need to be prepared to leave home for an hour or more at a time. Make a plan for any pets, as you should not leave them at home during showings—they distract buyers and sometimes cause trouble with strangers in the house. Find somewhere for yourself and your pets to wait out showings and open houses.

 

14. Offers and Negotiations – Review offers with your Agent and choose the offer that works best for you. You can also negotiate offers until they are satisfactory for both parties.

 

15. Close and Move – After you close the deal with your buyers you can sign all of the paperwork. You might consider hiring a real estate attorney to help with the process. Don’t forget to weigh tax implications with closing! Last, but not least, move to your new home and set up all of your personal effects again.

 

Welcome home!