It’s when the homeowners stop to consider the move that it may dawn on them, yes, because they need to sell, they are now a first-time home seller.

Selling a home is very different from buying a home. Whereas buying a home generally involves emotions and feelings, selling a home typically centers on what listing agents like to call maximizing profit potential.

Price Your Home Accurately

Price your home accurately. For this, you should enlist the help of a reputable listing agent.  You’ll fare much better if you select an experienced real estate agent who sells a fair number of listings for your market.

Your agent will analyze comparable sales and prepare an estimate of value for comparative market analysis.

Home Staging Boosts Selling Power and Appeal

Ask your agent to advise you on preparing your home for sale. Most homes show better with about half of the furniture removed.  Consider home staging to boost your selling power and appeal, and ask your agent for input.

Painting is the single most effective improvement you can make. Don’t let dings in the woodwork or scraps on the walls make your home reflect deferred maintenance.

The Best Day to List Your Home

The time period for listing your home will vary depending on your local community, the weather, time of year, and a host of other factors, including the state of your present real estate market. You basically get one chance to present your home in hopefully its best light the first day on the market.

Ask About Your Agent’s Standard Real Estate Commission

Ask about your agent’s standard real estate commission before you get too far down the line. If it’s reasonable, consider the big picture and benefits to you to hire this individual. Check track records for performance. Don’t expect a full-service agent to discount. Getting into a contract is only the beginning; you need to make it all the way to closing.

Your home will not sell itself, despite what you may read or hear or the propensity of real estate websites to make the process appear as easy as the click of a mouse. It’s not. You don’t know what you don’t know. To get the most money from the sale of your home, you will most likely rely on the professionals you have hired to sell your home.

Do not try to pit agents against each other to compete for commission or you’ll increase the chances you’ll end up with a weasel. You don’t deserve a weasel.

Be Flexible With Home Showings

Be flexible with showings. If home showings are too much of an imposition, consider going away the first weekend your home is on the market. Yes, it can feel a bit intrusive to allow strangers to trek through your home.  The best way to sell your home is to let a buyer inside with their buyer’s agent to tour in peace and quiet.

Host an Open House

Allow an open house if your home is conducive to an open house.

Not every home is a viable candidate for an open house. If your home is located in an area close to major traffic, that is generally indicative of a reasonable expectation that the open house signs will pull in visitors. Ask your agent if she advertises the open house online. Many a home buyer has had no desire to buy a home until they spot an open house and subsequently falls in love.

Make Sure You Have Professional Photography

Of course, if you have hired a top-notch listing agent, your agent will most likely already provide professional photos. It’s not enough to just get the angle right in the photo, the most popular photos are rich in color and depth, and they entice.

Review Your Listing Online

Look at your home listing on various websites to make sure the information conveyed is accurate. Agents do their best to ensure accuracy, but since it is your home, you know the details better than anyone.

Respond Promptly to a Purchase Offer

Try to respond promptly to a purchase offer. Many offers contain a date by which the offer expires. Notwithstanding, it can drive buyers crazy if they are forced to wait for a seller to decide whether to accept their offer or to issue a counteroffer.

 

Enjoy the Process – Have Some Fun

Real Estate doesn’t have to be stressful.  When looking for the right listing agent, see if they have a counterpart to help you find your new home in the process.  The better the agent, the less stressful the situation – remember that as you pick!