Regardless of what’s happening in the world, selling your house can be a daunting, emotional process. It’s a place where you and your family have invested your time, effort, and money to make your own and where you have created many memories together. Here are five key things we believe will help you make the most out of selling your home!
- Choose the right real estate agent: Find the right agent who will not only help you sell your home, but will also provide the utmost level of care while negotiating the best deal on your behalf. Choosing the right agent requires doing your research to find someone who is experienced, knowledgeable about the neighborhood and market, and has the right personal fit for your needs. Once you find someone who is the right fit, they should be able to create a targeted strategy to market your home to an extensive network of agents and buyers.
- Price your house to sell: In any market condition, your house is only worth what buyers are willing to pay. It’s important to remember that even in today’s low-inventory market, you need to price your house correctly in order to maximize the number of buyers that will see and place bids on your house, which will ultimately drive up your final sale price. Your real estate agent will be best equipped to help you run an analysis and more accurately predict your home’s value.
- Focus on fact, not emotion: Selling a home can be a very emotional process; it’s a place that many of us associate with comfort, joy, and irreplaceable memories. Since the average time homeowners own their home has doubled from 5 to 10 years since 1985, the emotional attachment we have towards our homes could be greater than before. Although the sentimental value will likely never fully disappear, when it comes to selling your house, it’s important to focus instead on the facts as you and your agent determine a competitive market price and navigate negotiations.
- Address any issues early on: Although large renovations can sometimes be a poor investment for sellers, if your real estate agent suggests getting a visible stain on the ceiling or a hole in the wall checked out, it may be in your best interest to do so. These may seem minor at the time, but could potentially be bigger issues once inspected. Buyers may also use these factors to request a credit or try to renegotiate the sale price. It’s best to address these issues upfront so that there aren’t any surprises once you open escrow. Your agent knows which problems make the most sense to address beforehand and will help you in this process.
- Stage your house and prepare for showings: One of the most critical things to do when selling your house is transforming it into a space that buyers can walk into and immediately imagine themselves living there. As part of meeting this goal, it’s important to remove hyper-personalized pictures and decorations and have furniture and décor placed in an artful way that will allow buyers to envision themselves creating a home there. Your agent will be able to provide you with the tips and personnel to prepare your house for cleaning, decluttering, and staging. All of these steps will go a long way in helping buyers visualize their dreams as they walk throughout the property. Ask us about our Compass Concierge program which can front the cost of home improvements at 0% interest.
How we can help: Selling your house is a big decision, and these are just a few of the things that we believe are most important for you to keep in mind when doing so. We understand that every seller’s needs are different, and our team is committed to providing the highest level of attention, care, and expertise in meeting those needs. If you’re thinking about selling your home, we would love to help you get started on your journey! Reach out to us anytime at russellandtony@compass.com or 310.230.5771.
