Selling your home and moving is stressful under any circumstances but especially so if you have to. Mapping out a plan for selling quickly at a good price can help you feel more confident and at ease.
It is true that there are times when the market is more active like early spring in most areas but homes do sell every day of the year. The right time to sell is when you are ready to sell. Someone is always looking to buy a house on their schedule and that may be any time of the year.
The most important factor is to decide the list price. Get an idea of your home’s value by clicking the “What is my home worth” button. Just enter your address for an instant valuation that includes insights about your neighborhood market.
For a better and more accurate estimate of your home’s value, give me a call or click here to contact me online. Our first step is to meet at your home and do a walk-through. We can come up with a more accurate estimate and I could explain the rest of the process of selling your home.
Prepare your home for the market.
It’s is important to see your home the way a buyer would. Visiting open houses in your area helps you gauge the competition and get ideas on how to best present your own home. Rather than spending a lot of time and money on extensive remodeling projects and upgrades, here are some of the most important steps you can take to prepare your home.
Deep Cleaning
De-cluttering
Fix those minor repairs
If your home hasn’t been improved for several years and you have time and money, cosmetic updates will help you sell faster and for a higher price. New paint and refinished or re-carpeted floors usually give the best return. A little landscaping can do a lot for curb appeal.
Taking care of any minor repairs is important for first impressions. And major repairs that could be costly, can mean the difference between selling or not. The main systems in your home – electrical, heating, cooling, and plumbing – should be in good working order as well as major appliances. There should be no threats to the structural integrity of your home, such as a failing roof or moisture in your basement.
If you choose not to make major repairs, you can set a list price that takes their cost into account and let buyers know. Disclosure of known defects protects you from lawsuits and is the right thing to do. It also heads off surprises and breakdowns at the negotiating table.
Setting the list price
The single most important step in marketing your home is pricing it fairly. It may be tempting to start with a high price to test the market, especially if a Realtor who wants your business encourages you to. Don’t do it.
Research shows that overpriced homes stay on the market longer and sell for less than homes priced at or near market value. Buyers will either not view the home or not make an offer. The more price reductions and time on the market, the weaker the seller’s position at the bargaining table.
The list price should be based on a comparative market analysis. A good CMA will compare your home to similar properties in the area, including those recently sold and those currently up for sale. It should also factor in local market conditions. Are home prices rising or falling? Is it a buyer’s or a seller’s market?
The CMA is an opinion and best approached as a range. But if you’re satisfied that the explanation of your home’s value is based on hard facts and sound thinking, it’s in your interest to act on it.
Market for maximum exposure
The first days and weeks that a home hits the market are a one-time opportunity. If the property doesn’t capture interest right away, that window is lost. So it’s vital for your home to be in the best possible condition, priced right and marketed effectively from the get-go.
A good marketing plan should capitalize on the most desirable features of your home and neighborhood. It will set a list date and work both backward and forward from that point. Every step in the process needs to be completed at the right time.
- Take professional photos and, for some properties, create a virtual tour
- Install a yard sign and a passcode-protected lockbox
- Prepare the listing for the Garden State Multiple Listing Service
- Create professional color flyers
- Syndicate the listing on the brokerage and agent site as well as Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com and many more
- Send out “Just Listed” postcards to neighbors in the surrounding area
- Host open houses for brokers and the public
- Provide weekly progress reports, including feedback on open houses and showings
- Review and adjust the marketing plan as needed