Too many sellers have extreme anxiety over the thought of having to clear out and fix up their home, so much so that it can delay or even prevent them from putting the place on the market in the first place. But in most cases, there’s no need to panic here—or to overshoot your goals. Often there’s far less to do than sellers think. Before spending months and thousands upgrading your place—or just throwing up your hands and giving up before you begin—have a professional, proven successful real estate agent take a look at your property in order to provide you feedback. You might be pleasantly surprised by your current sales prospects.Start with the basics. Fix all minor mechanical issues (such as loose doorknobs and leaky plumbing), clean everything well, keep the yard maintained, and put fresh pine straw or mulch in the flower beds. Power wash decks and other surfaces if needed. For more information, visit my How to Prepare Your Home For Sale checklist on my website
Check with a lender first to learn if this is an option. Ask yourself if you are willing and able to carry two mortgages and deal with the stress that comes from physically and financially maintaining two homes. An experienced agent should be able to guide you to a good decision.
It will take longer, on average, to sell a home yourself. If you have the time, the money to market, and want to manage the sale, you may want to consider this option. If you decide to sell your own home, visit our For Sale By Owner FAQ section of our website to learn more. If you want copies of legal contracts for review, simply contact us for all the latest legal forms.
A proven successful and professional agent can lead you through the listing and selling process with ease. Aside from improving your quality of life during your family’s transition, a real estate agent may help you net more money for your home. Real estate agents know the market, proper pricing and how to achieve a faster sale. Often, owners who sell their own home For Sale By Owner are asked by potential buyers to discount the commission rate that would be given to an agent. In that case, you have all the work, all the complications and none of the financial rewards.
The commissions are negotiable and something that you decide based upon the agents marketing plans. It is important to know what part of the commission is shared with the buyer’s agent too, often times this question is not asked and it is absolutely critical because many buyers agents do not show homes that offer them a commission of less than 2.5% of the sales price. But what’s implied by this question is ‘What are real estate agents doing to earn their checks?’ There are many things, but visit our website for the top 7. Here are some facts to keep in mind: Unlike lawyers who get paid by the hour, or doctors who are paid by the appointment, listing agents don’t get paid unless they make a sale. For every hour a proven successful professional real estate agent spends with a client, he or she will typically invest 9 hours on average every week working on that client’s behalf contacting a daily average of 30 potential buyers and agents working with buyers for your home. Always ask your potential real estate agent, how many contacts are you making? And no, not all agents are created equal. Since most contracts last for a year, we recommend that sellers interview three agents prior to selecting one to represent them. It’s no different from choosing an attorney, accountant, or stock broker.. You want to be sure that you trust that person and are comfortable with them.
You should only consider vacating your home before placing it on the market if your furnishings are poorly maintained or the environment is overly cluttered. A vacant home usually communicates a need to sell and weakens your negotiating position.
On average, a staged home sells 88% faster—and for 20% more money—than a home that’s left as is. The reason it works, of course, is it gives buyers a “stage” onto which they can play out their home-owning fantasies and envision themselves living in your home. Choose neutral paint colors and remove any family photos, because only 10% of people have the ability to visualize before and afters. You need to give would-be homeowners a blank canvass(When you are struggling with color, go for white. It is always best to start with neutral tones and layer on top of that, or add pops of color as you go. Yet while it’s important to convey a feeling of sophistication, you also want the space to feel homey and lived in. You can do this with cashmere throws on the couch or a cookbook on the kitchen counter open to a recipe. that they can mentally fill with possessions, their loved ones, and themselves.
Open houses may make you feel good, since people are stopping by to see your home, but they are rarely effective for producing a sale, in fact only 1% of homes are sold via an open house according to the National Association of Realtors(for the beach areas about 3% of homes) are sold via open houses. These events usually draw prospects just beginning to look at homes. They are getting a feel for the market and are not usually ready to make a commitment, even if they love your home. Often the “visitors” are curious neighbors. Our professional marketing plan will offer more effective ways to sell your home.
This topic is often frustrating for sellers. Few real estate agents are excellent at communicating and keeping their sellers informed. If you want to have information on the status of your home’s marketing and any progress notes, you will need to establish that schedule with your individual real estate professional. When you list with TheBeachSeller, you will have access to your entire sale online. Most importantly, Brad is available to answer your questions and concerns via phone, text or email. Per our first send out, when you are selling your home, it is critical that you be kept well informed.
The seller must disclose all pertinent facts about the home that are not easily seen. A good rule of thumb: if you are compelled to ask “should I disclose this?” – the answer is yes. The Seller’s Property Disclosure Statement must be filled out honestly and completely to help protect you.
If your home is more than ten years old, then it may be a wise investment. Many companies offer warranties for $360 – $400. Your real estate agent can help you with the application. Brad offers a one-year home warranty to his listing clients as part of his commitment to quality service.
The seller is not obligated to pay closing costs. However, it may be advantageous if you have a qualified buyer who does not have liquid assets for these costs. Closing costs are typically 2-2.5% of the buyer’s loan amount. Remember to focus on the net amount you receive, rather than the contract price.
(We don’t want to have to move twice!) This option can only be explored once you find a buyer. You may discuss your needs with your agent and he/she can determine if the buyer is both willing and able to postpone their own move into the house.
Call the utility companies to have them perform a final reading on the day the buyer takes possession. The buyer will need call to have the service transferred to their name.