It’s hard to be an expert at something most people only do a handful of times in their lives. If you’re selling your home for the first time there are a few important things you need to keep in mind.
Hire a Real Estate Agent
You may believe that you can do this on your own and increase your bottom line, but nationally, homes sold by a real estate agent sell for an average of $39,000 more than homes sold by owners (source). Having a real estate agent on your team means you don’t have to handle the scheduling of showings, creation of disclosures, or negotiation of contracts on your own.
Hire a Real Estate Agent
You may believe that you can do this on your own and increase your bottom line, but nationally, homes sold by a real estate agent sell for an average of $39,000 more than homes sold by owners (source). Having a real estate agent on your team means you don’t have to handle the scheduling of showings, creation of disclosures, or negotiation of contracts on your own.
Make a Move Out Plan
So you want to move, but are you ready to move within 30 days? The Denver market is still hopping at an incredibly fast pace and once your home is on the market you’ll need to be ready to start packing. Have a move out plan in place before you list your home to avoid contract extensions and frustrated buyers.
So you want to move, but are you ready to move within 30 days? The Denver market is still hopping at an incredibly fast pace and once your home is on the market you’ll need to be ready to start packing. Have a move out plan in place before you list your home to avoid contract extensions and frustrated buyers.
Make Your Home Move In Ready
Did you remodel your kitchen but never finish the backsplash? Does that one door not close all the way? These are small projects that can make a big difference to your bottom line and how quickly you can sell your house. Before your house is on the market finish as many of these little projects as you can to have your home truly move-in ready.
Be Available for Showings
It’s important to offer flexibility when opening your home to showings. Buyers are often shopping for houses on their lunch breaks or before and after work. Do your best to offer a wide window for showings so buyers can jump in during their free time. Bonus Tip: When you leave each morning, make sure the house is in showing condition. Make the beds, open the blinds to allow light in, straighten rooms and clear counters.
Allow Room for Concessions
When you are looking at your budget and calculating your bottom line be sure to allow a bit of wiggle room in case of seller concessions to the buyer. After an inspection, buyers can negotiate to add seller concessions to the contract to cover expenses for big ticket items that may need to be replaced, such as a roof. Your real estate agent will guide these negotiations, but you don’t want to be surprised by them. By allowing room for this cost from the beginning you’ll be able to maintain the bottom line you are looking for.
Now you’re ready to get your home on the market! Meet with your real estate agent for further advice and to outline the process.
Did you remodel your kitchen but never finish the backsplash? Does that one door not close all the way? These are small projects that can make a big difference to your bottom line and how quickly you can sell your house. Before your house is on the market finish as many of these little projects as you can to have your home truly move-in ready.
Be Available for Showings
It’s important to offer flexibility when opening your home to showings. Buyers are often shopping for houses on their lunch breaks or before and after work. Do your best to offer a wide window for showings so buyers can jump in during their free time. Bonus Tip: When you leave each morning, make sure the house is in showing condition. Make the beds, open the blinds to allow light in, straighten rooms and clear counters.
Allow Room for Concessions
When you are looking at your budget and calculating your bottom line be sure to allow a bit of wiggle room in case of seller concessions to the buyer. After an inspection, buyers can negotiate to add seller concessions to the contract to cover expenses for big ticket items that may need to be replaced, such as a roof. Your real estate agent will guide these negotiations, but you don’t want to be surprised by them. By allowing room for this cost from the beginning you’ll be able to maintain the bottom line you are looking for.
Now you’re ready to get your home on the market! Meet with your real estate agent for further advice and to outline the process.