Whether you have decided you are ready to sell your home or you are still deciding if you really want to move or not, understanding the selling process can help you along your journey. Really, the process is pretty straightforward. Let’s take a closer look at what you will need to do to ensure your home sells.
Deciding to Sell Your Home
Before committing to putting your home on the market, you should ultimately ask yourself why you think selling is the right decision. Is your home too small? Outdated? Not in a good location?
After you decide to sell, it is completely normal to be nervous and have doubts about your choice. There are a few signs that show you are ready to take this step:
- You are equity positive, which means you do not owe more than the value of your home.
- You are in a position financially that will allow you to buy a home that is a better fit for you and your family.
- You’ve done a gut check, ensuring your emotional state will allow you to treat the selling of your home like a business transaction without feelings getting in the way of critiques and negotiations.
After you determine that you are totally ready to sell, you should determine the value of your home and decide when you would like to start the selling process.
Best Method to Sell Your Home
When it comes to the actual selling of a home, most people do not have the first idea of what to do. This is where a real estate agent comes in. They are professional home sellers and they will be able to help you get your home on the market.
Real estate agents do a lot:
- Analyze the housing market to help determine a fair price for your home
- Help guide you through prepping the house for photos and showings, including decluttering, repairs, and staging
- Recommend professional stagers and photographers to show the true beauty of the home
- Using social media and real estate platforms to market your home
- Find potential buyers to show your home to, highlighting all of the best parts
- Handle negotiations so you get the best price
- They do the bulk of the paperwork, and walk you through anything you need to handle
Getting Ready
It can be tempting to completely remodel your outdated kitchen or replace the flooring in the owner’s suite. The most important things to fix are things that matter to buyers. As long as everything is functional, the most important thing to do is keep your home clean, decluttered, and as neutral as possible.
Negotiations and Closing
Once your home is on the market, it’s a waiting game on your end. You essentially wait for people to show interest. When the offers start coming in, you’ll need to make counter offers and choose the best offer, put the offer into escrow, handle any problems related to your deed or title, have the home inspection, and close on the sale.