Selling your home is exciting, but it can
also cause anxiety for you, your spouse, and your family. Whether
you’re moving
across town or across the country, following these simple steps can make the
home sale process go more smoothly.
Sell First or Buy First?
If you’re selling your home, chances are you’ll be buying
another one to replace it. Your family may be moving into a larger home or you
may be downsizing. The first decision you need to make is whether to sell your
current home first or to buy your next one first.
Selling your home before buying your next
one can help you present a strong offer on your new home. Some sellers may find
it too risky to accept an offer that’s contingent on the sale of your current
home. Selling your home beforehand also means you do not risk carrying two
mortgage payments in the even that you purchase a new home before your current
one sells.
However, if you sell your home before finding
a new one, you may find yourself in a short-term rental or living with in-laws.
Searching for a home before you sell your current one will ensure you have a
place to stay while you’re trying to sell.
Pick a Good Realtor®
Finding a reputable Realtor® to sell your
home is one of the most important things you can do to make the sale of your
home go more smoothly. Your Realtor® will take a tour of your home, take
measurements, and compare your home to comparable properties in your
neighborhood and use the data to come up with a fair market value for your home. This will help you
set a competitive asking price. He or she will likely ask you to make some
small repairs or upgrades that will help nudge your asking price higher.
Prepare Your Home for Sale
When we live in our homes for a period of
time, it’s easy to become blind to minor repairs and issues that turn buyers
off. Take your real estate agent’s suggestions to heart and patch up dings and
scratches, freshen up paint, and make small kitchen and bath updates. These
small investments will put your home’s best face forward.
Having lots of clutter is not appealing to
buyers. For the short time your home’s on the market, consider it a commodity. Clear out any unnecessary furniture and personal items and give your
home a deep clean to show it off.
Put It on the Market and Accept an Offer
Once your home is sale-ready, your Realtor®
will list it and market it online and through his or her office and
professional networks. You’ll likely host an open house or two.
Once you have an offer, you can choose to
accept it, make a counter-offer, or reject it. Your Realtor® will help you determine
if an offer is fair. After accepting an offer, the buyer will likely request an
inspection and their lender will request an appraisal. If these go well and no
issues are uncovered, the sale moves to closing. You’ll likely meet the buyer
at that point, sign off on the sale, and pass over the keys.
The home sale process can be complicated,
which is why you want an experienced Realtor® on your side. To sell your home
in the Rockford-Buffalo-Delano-St. Michael area, contact Trent Shipley at Keller Williams Realty
Integrity NW today.
