Selling your house can be an overwhelming and emotional process. Not only is moving stressful and time-consuming, but it’s sometimes difficult to say goodbye to a home filled with happy memories. Fortunately, today’s blog post is here to help!
Five Questions to Ask Before You Sell Your House
Below, we answer five of the most frequently asked questions from home sellers.
Should I use a real estate agent? We’ve all seen the sign in someone’s front yard — For Sale By Owner — and we’re here to tell you: Don’t do it! People often attempt to sell their homes without a real estate agent in an effort to save money. However, they typically lose money when they forgo an expert’s help. They may list their house for less than its value or miss out on potential buyers without an agent’s network of contacts. So yes, the input of a trusted real estate professional — like Christine Elias at The Urban Dog Group — is well worth it!
When is the best time to sell my house? Studies show that spring and summer are the hottest home-buying seasons, with May, June, and July being the most popular months. What day you list your home even matters: Redfin reveals that homes listed on Thursdays sell for more money and quicker than homes listed on other days of the week.
Getting My House Ready to Sell
You’ve hired a real estate agent and picked a date — now is when the real work begins for home sellers!
I want to sell my house — why is it taking so long to get it on the market? In an effort to get your house ready to sell, there are a number of things that must be considered. First, since 4 in 10 home buyers start their searches with online listings, professional photographs are an important step. Your listing agent should schedule a photographer shortly after you’re ready to put your house on the market. Next, curb appeal is critical for making a positive first impression. While it may be as simple as cleaning up your front porch and adding a few potted plants, there’s a chance full-scale landscaping will be needed. Before you start to question the importance of a pretty yard, consider research from Virginia Tech that suggests that improving your landscaping can increase your home’s value by as much as 12 percent. And finally, home staging is a must: Staged homes sell, on average, 88 percent faster and for 20 percent more than non-staged homes. It’s a great time to have a yard sale and/or donate items. Minimize personal items so that potential buyers can envision the home as their own. Plus, boxing up unnecessary items now will make it easier when it’s time for you to pack. Enlist your realtor’s experience to ensure that your home is looking its best.
Should I schedule a pre-inspection? Homebuyers usually include a home inspection in the contingency section of their offer. However, it may be worthwhile to schedule a pre-inspection as you prepare to list your home, especially if you have an older house. Taking this step allows home sellers to fix any issues ahead of time and may lead to a smoother closing transaction.
Do I need to make any updates to my house before listing it? It’s really up to you. If a pre-inspection alerts you to a problem, you’ll either need to fix it or adjust your listing price and disclose it to potential buyers. People often want a move-in-ready home, so it’s best to fix major issues, like a damaged roof or leaky pipes. Aesthetic updates, such as stained carpet or off-putting paint colors, are best left for future homeowners. That way, they’ll be able to make these changes based on their personal preferences.
In the market to buy a home? Check out last month’s post: Real Estate 101 for Home Buyers.
Let The Urban Dog Group help you with your real estate needs in Central Florida! Contact Christine Elias at caerealestate@gmail.com.