Selling a house is a stressful process, but it’s not impossible to make it go smoothly. With these seven tips, you’re sure to get top dollar for your house and make the process as simple as possible:
Get a Real Estate Agent
“Do I need a realtor?” is one of the common questions when buying a new house or selling a property. Realtors and real estate agents have been in the property industry long enough, so they have adequate expertise to help set the price of any house; they will help you set the best price and help you find the best offers. They can also negotiate with buyers on your behalf and make sure all agreements are in place before closing so that there aren’t any issues later.
Though a real estate agent can help with paperwork like contracts, engage a real estate attorney to prevent deliberate errors from unscrupulous agents.
Price the House Wisely
The most important step in selling your house is to price it right. If you price it too low, you may sell it quickly but get a low return on your investment. On the other hand, if you price it too high, no one will buy it, and you might count losses especially if you had spent a lot of money on repairs and renovations.
Here are some reasonable tips to help you avoid these snares:
- Ensure you understand how much you expect from the sale before you start working on anything else. Do a quick search online to see the average price of houses that are of the same age and standards as yours. Also, keep in mind that house prices vary depending on the location.
- Take into account property taxes that will be due on your home
- Once you’ve set the price, don’t forget to include photos showing off all aspects of the interior and exterior in your listing. They will back up your pricing as potential buyers will know exactly what they’re getting themselves into before contacting you.
Be Ready to Negotiate on Price
Be flexible enough to allow room for negotiations. If you’re selling your home for $200,000 and a buyer comes along offering $150,000, you can negotiate and settle on a figure in between. But if multiple buyers are willing to pay more than $150,000, go through the offers and choose the best.
When negotiating on price, keep in mind the value your house commands. If it holds treasures and has been well maintained, then its value should be high. If you’re a celebrity, you may use your status to demand even 10X the market price!
Advertise The House
Realtors can help you advertise your house, but if you don’t have one on board yet or are interested in trying something new, there are plenty of other options for getting the word out about your home. You can use social media networks like Facebook, Twitter, or Craigslist. You could also consider posting listings in local newspapers and online publications like Zillow or Realtor® Magazine.
Clean, Declutter, and Make Small Repairs
It may seem like a waste of time, but cleaning your house can help you sell it faster. Many buyers want to buy a home that looks as if it has been lived in by someone who cares about their surroundings. If you’ve got clutter everywhere—clothes on the floor, dishes piled up in the sink, and toys scattered around the living room—buyers will assume this is how things have always been kept at your house.
Before you put your home on the market, it’s important to make sure the house is in good shape. This can be as simple as getting rid of clutter and removing any odors from the home. You should also have a professional fix the walls, roof, drainage, ceiling, etc. A house that needs repairs will not sell as fast or for as much money. A buyer will probably want to see evidence of maintenance before deciding on your house.
Also, do:
- Update countertops and appliances. Replacing your old countertop with a new one is an easy way to boost your home’s value and make it sell quickly. You can also update appliances like sinks and faucets if they’re outdated or in need of repair.
- Replace cabinets and fixtures: If you have outdated cabinetry that doesn’t match the rest of your home’s architecture, it might be time for an upgrade. You can find similar products at local hardware stores or online retailers.
Think About Curb Appeal
Check for paint peeling, stains, and other cosmetic issues that may be on your home’s exterior surfaces. These can be easily overlooked by potential buyers who are not looking for them, but they could influence their decision to purchase when negotiations come up.
Here are ways to up the curb appeal:
- Clear bushes and groom the lawn. If you have trees, trim them to make the yard look nice.
- Plant flowers in pots or beds around the house, as well as along driveways and walkways.
- Clean up your yard and driveway, mow it regularly, remove junk from garages, and keep the outside of your house clean at all times.
Deal With the Paperwork Early
If you’ve ever sold or bought a home, then you know that getting the paperwork done right is crucial to a smooth transaction. The same goes for any other kind of property transfer. If you want to make sure your house sells quickly and without any hiccups, then it helps to have everything lined up ahead of time.
Conclusion
If you’ve read this far and are still unsure about starting the process of selling your house, we highly recommend hiring a professional realtor to help guide you through every step. They will take care of everything from getting an offer on your home to preparing it for showing, negotiating terms with buyers, and more. The nice thing about working with a realtor is that they know what works best in each situation—and as we’ve seen above, there may be some changes worth making, even if everything seems perfect.