I've Been A Realtor For 35 Years, Here are My Tips For An Easy Home Sale:

I’ve been a Realtor for 35 years.  Here are my tips for an easy home sale.  I’ve discovered over the years there are really three main things that cause a home to sell.  They are price, condition, and location. Two of those you have control over so it’s key to do everything you can to make both as attractive and competitive as possible.

Choose The Right Price

When choosing the price the most important things to consider are the homes that have recently closed and those that are pending.  Second to that are other homes that are for sale that you’ll be in competition with.  It’s important to look at the most recent sales and market trends since the market changes all the time.  While many think Zestimates, tax assessments, and appraisals are the way to determine value, it’s really not.  Obviously appraisals weigh in however it must be within six months and it also must be an appraisal that was done for the purpose of market value.  Many appraisals are done for refinance purposes and that is not market value.  An appraiser may allow one thing for a refinance value and another when determining market value.

The best thing you can do to choose the right price for your home is to meet with an experienced Realtor to do the necessary research to determine the price that the market is bearing for your home at that time.

Create Optimal Condition

Let’s talk about the condition, the next thing you have control over.  I always tell my sellers to take the time to walk around their home as if they were looking at it through the eyes of a buyer. You must take this fresh approach so you can see what buyers are going to see rather than what you see as the homeowner.  

I will share a quick list of things that will help to showcase your home at its best at the end. Remember when buyers are searching for a home they are not just looking at your home. They’re going to look at every home that’s on the market within their criteria.  You must do what you can to make sure your home stands out over the competition with both price and condition.

In addition to price and condition being key factors to an easy sale you also want to think about making it easy to show.  Try to avoid requiring things like 24 hour notice or requiring your listing agent to be present for every showing.  When you’re wanting to sell your home you need to make it as easy and accessible to show as possible otherwise you risk the buyers simply passing your home by and moving on to the next one.

The Terms of The Sale

You want to be as flexible as possible with the terms of the sale.  When thinking of the closing date and possession, be as open as possible.  The more flexible you are, the more buyers you keep yourself open to. Creating lots of restrictions and contingencies to the sale of your home only narrows your pool of buyers.

If you can it is a good idea to have a home inspection before putting your home on the market. This will shed light on any repairs that may need to be done up front giving you the opportunity to have them all fixed prior to the buyer’s home inspection where mountains can be made out of molehills possibly costing you thousands of dollars in the end.

Get in the mindset of getting unattached to your home emotionally and try to think of it as a business transaction instead.  If you’ve made the decision to sell the home then that’s exactly what it is.  Being emotionally attached and involved doesn’t really help you as a seller.  

Get Ready To Show

Create a warm and inviting atmosphere when your home is being shown by playing some welcoming soft music, turning lights on, having some neutral aroma flowing and all areas of the home available for homebuyers to look at.

Here are the top ten things we generally tell our sellers to do before putting their home on the market to help it sell more quickly and easily:

Declutter, organize, and clean
Neutralize decor if necessary by painting and replacing flooring if needed
If there is any chipping or peeling paint inside or out scrape and paint
Remove screens from front windows and clean so they sparkle crispening you curb appeal
Remove things that date the home like scatter rugs, curtains, large furniture, photos, and such
Replace all light bulbs
Replace all air filters
Seal your driveway or throw a fresh layer of gravel
Freshen up your landscaping
Leave when the home is being shown so buyers can feel comfortable looking

Remember it’s always best to hire a professional when dealing with your largest single investment rather than trying to do it yourself.  Sit back, breathe, and let the home and your Realtor sell it!