The first step, before you do anything, is to contact a real estate agent.
A professional real estate agent who has the skills, knowledge, and the experience to assist you and guide you every step of the way in selling your home. You’re agent will prepare, price, and market your home for sale while advising you, educating you, updating you on the current real estate market, giving you valuable showing feedback, and ultimately meeting your goals by negotiating a sale on your behave. Remember, a real estate agent is not paid until your home has sold and closed, – your goals are their goals- – the sale of your home!
As you can see, to sell your home you will need more than an ad in the local paper and a for sale sign on the front lawn!
You need a seasoned professional real estate agent who will:
- Market your home to receive the best possible selling price.
- Negotiate the Contract of Sale to meet terms favorable to you the seller.
- Market your home in the shortest period of time.
- Advise you so will have a full understanding of the sales process.
- Create a “team of professionals to put it simply, – – to get the job done!
- Target the market where the most likely buyers will be. Who is your buyer?
- Introduce and showcase your home to real estate agents and qualified buyers.
- Complete the necessary paperwork through-out the selling process.
- Skillfully work with the other professionals involved to complete the sale.
- Attend your closing.
- Follow-up with you after closing to ensure your smooth transition.
The success of selling your home is dependent on several factors:
1. List Price
This is the most important factor in selling your home. The list price of your home is determined by data collected and reviewed with you by your real estate agent. However, the ultimate market value of your home is determined by what a buyer is willing to pay.
The second most important factor is the location of your home. The access to a downtown, award winning schools, hopitals, and cultural events. Other criteria a buyer deems important is, the location of the home within the neighborhood or development, the amenities of the neighborhood, the street traffic, ease to obtain public transportation, and to merge onto major roadways.
3. Condition of Home
When you fill out your Seller Disclosure you will give the buyer a glimpse of the care and love you have given your home during your ownership. Buyers are very interested in not only the visual appearance of your home but the structural integrity and the major mechanical systems age and there practicality as well as functionality. A first time home buyer on a tight budget is also looking to purchase a home with new or newer stainless steel appliances included in the sale. To give the buyer a peace of mind, you may also want to offer a Home Warranty.
4. Current Market Conditions
Interest rates, mortgage products, tax incentives, the availability of like properties within the same neighborhood, the current economic and consumer confidence, all influence the salability of your home. Please note these are factors that are out of your control. This is the time to keep your goals in mind, and realize, that your desire to reach your goals out weight the current market conditions.
5. Contract of Sale Terms
Look at all the terms of the Contract of Sale not just focusing on the offering price. There are seven key factors I ask my sellers to discuss with me in relationship to their needs, and goals, when we review a Contract of Sale:
- Offering Price
- Deposit Money
- Financing
- Closing Date
- Inclusions and Exclusions
- Contingencies
- Additional Provisions
6. Marketing
When your real estate agent, and the real estate firm they have their license with, have the knowledge, skills, along with a marketing department of experts, you can rest assure that your home will be advertised using all available venues. When your home is marketed properly you will sell your home in a shorter amount of time and for the best possible price. A savvy real estate agent working for you, who has the command of the internet, where 94% of buyers are starting their home search, is your best bet!
Madolyn Greve, Broker Associate, Callaway Henderson Real Estate 