Plan the Process
Are you planning to purchase a new home in the near future? If so do you need to sell your present home in order to acquire financing for the next home? It would in that case be a good idea to place your home on the market as far in advance as possible. It is difficult to make two mortgage payments even if you qualify for both.
Another issue to consider is that closing and moving dates will need to be coordinated on the sale of the current house and purchase of the new home. As a part of the contracts you will need to be sure all parties involved are committed to a specific time period for the closing date.
Pricing Your Home
Pricing your home within the market and asking a fair price as apposed to overpricing is important to the sale of the property. Overpricing should be avoided as it may cause your home to remain on the market for an extended time period. If you price it properly, you can expect to get a fair return on your investment, in a reasonable time frame, assuming that the market in your area is good and has not suffered a decline in prices.
Other items you may want to consider when setting a price for your home are:
- The location of your property
- The economic conditions at the time for your area
- Supply and demand ratio in the local market
- Age and condition of your home
- Features of your home and the current demand for those features or those features your property is missing.
- Seasonal influences (in some areas certain times of the year are better for selling)
Getting Your Home Ready to sell
Take the time up front to get your home ready for those first prospects to view the home in excellent selling condition. The condition of the home in the first few showings will set the tone. If it is not in good condition and the agent showing the home receives poor feed back from their prospective buyers they may hesitate to show the property again. Let's take a look at various areas of the home and think about what can be done to make a better impression on prospective purchasers.
Curb Appeal - How your house looks from across the street can be one of the important selling points and can in many cases sell the house to the buyers before they even enter the property.
- Plant shrubs and/or install fencing to block unpleasant views
- Maintain the yard with mowing, raking, trimming shrubs and keep sidewalks and porches and patios swept.
- Clean the exterior of the house, pay attention to oil stains on driveways and in the garage
- Repair or replace street numbers on the house
- Make sure all exterior lighting is working and the fixtures are clean and free of cobwebs
- Repair and/or paint exterior siding, shutters and trim
- Repair windows and screens
- Garages and Sheds are important too...
Keep area organized for tools etc.
Keep it clean
Replace burned out lights
Clear away the Cobwebs
Interior Maintenance It is important that the interior has all clutter removed and be professionally cleaned. This will help the prospective buyer walk away from the showing with the impression that the home has been well cared for by the owner.
- Clean and frequently vacuum carpets. Where needed replace the carpet.
- Apply a fresh coat of paint as needed
- Wash or professionally clean curtains and drapes
- Clean ceiling fans and light fixtures …. Check for cobwebs in all corners
- Make sure all doors and windows open and close smoothly
- Pay special attention to Kitchen and bathrooms
Clean all appliances inside and out (frequently for the listing period)
Replace the light bulbs in all appliances
Make sure the floors are clean
Deodorize and neutralize odors particularly in the dishwasher, disposal and refrigerator.
Check for and clean all mold and mildew
Test to be sure that all electrical outlets are working
Unclutter counters and cabinets
Clean soap residue and lime deposits from all sinks, showers and bathtubs.
Make sure all glass doors and mirrors sparkle
Create a Pleasant Atmosphere It should be inviting, you want the experience of viewing your property to pleasant and allows them to remember the positive amenities of your home.
- Open the drapes and let in as much natural light as possible.
- Turn on all lights
- Have the temperature pleasant for their visit to your property
- Play quiet background music.
- Have flowers, candles or pleasant cooking scents
- Be absent during showings and keep pets outside or gone.
Choosing the right agent - can be the most important part of the process. You and the agent you choose must work as a team to accomplish the sale of your property. Therefore, it is important that the agent is someone that you feel will always be honest with you about everything and you enjoy working with on the day to day marketing of your property. Below are some qualities to look for:
- Honesty
- Frequent communication
- Marketing skills and access to internet promotion is of high importance these days
What should the be doing on your behalf?
- Helping you to set the price
- Handle fall the advertising and marketing of the home
- Schedule appointments and show your home without your presence
- Market your home to other real estate offices and agents
- Represent you in negotiations with prospective buyers
- Guide you through the closing process
