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Selling a home that you’ve loved and made memories in can be an emotional process. It will also take some time and work to prep your home for sale. Use these tips to help guide you through the selling process.
Know Your Expectations
When you decide to move, make sure you know what you want to accomplish and why you are moving. Are you thinking about downsizing, or maybe looking to upgrade? These are important factors to know when first beginning the home selling process. You should also think about your timeline, determine when exactly you should put your house on the market, and prepare to move.
Find a REALTOR®
The next step is to find a REALTOR®. Be sure to interview a few agents before making your selection, you want to make sure you find someone who is the best fit for you and your needs. Some important questions to ask are how the agent will market your home and how they intend to communicate with you throughout the transaction.
Your REALTOR® will guide you through the process. REALTORS® understand that selling your home can be stressful for you, but this is their area of expertise and they can walk you through what to expect and how to plan accordingly – along with the many options that are available.
Figure Out Your Pricing Strategy
After selecting a REALTOR® to work with, it’s time to work on pricing your home. Your REALTOR® will be able to help you determine a price that fits your neighborhood and home features. It’s crucial to remember that real estate is local, down to your street, and what sells in another neighborhood may not be the same case for your neighborhood.
REALTORS® have access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and are able to run a comparative market analysis on your home to determine what it is likely to sell for. This step can help you price your home effectively and help it to sell faster.
Get Your Home Ready to Sell
Prepping your home to sell requires some work. Your REALTOR® may advise you to declutter your home or even make some necessary repairs to make it sell-ready. This is an important step because you want to make a great first impression to potential buyers with appealing listing photos, as well as during viewing appointments.
Offers, Negotiations, and Closing
Once your home is on the market and being viewed you need to be prepared for the next step, which is receiving offers. If a buyer is interested in purchasing your home they will submit an offer to your REALTOR®.
If the offer is satisfactory to you, with pricing and contingencies, you can work with your REALTOR® to accept the offer and move to closing. However if you want to negotiate with the buyer for more money or maybe a later closing date, your REALTOR® will help you navigate the negotiation process.
A REALTOR® is also a powerful tool when it comes to negotiations. Many people shy away from such discussions, but that could cost you. However, a REALTOR® is your advocate in the process and will make your needs a priority.
After reaching a deal, it’s time to head to the final step: closing. This process can take some time, typically between 35 and 45 days. On your closing date you will have paperwork to sign to finalize the sale. Always ask the title company or your REALTOR® if you have questions regarding the documents you are signing.
Whether you’re selling property or buying, working with a REALTOR® can make a significant difference in the level of professionalism and skill you’ll receive during the process. You’ll enjoy a smoother transaction by working with a knowledgeable practitioner who puts the needs of his or her clients first. If you need help buying, selling or renting in San Antonio and the surrounding areas visit SABOR.com where you will find the most up-to-date property search tools and much more.
