“Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.”
~ Bobby Unser
Selling a home in Sanpete County can be challenging. In fact, it can be downright difficult if you are not prepared. With my recent success in closing several properties very quickly in Sanpete County, I decided to share a few words of wisdom on preparing to sell your home.
Many people believe selling a home starts with the Realtor, but in truth it starts with you. Even though Realtors do share a lot of the responsibility of preparing to sell your home, you must play a major role. Not sure where to start when preparing to sell your home? I’ve got you covered!
Preparing To Sell Your Home
One of the first steps in preparing to sell your home is evaluating your timeline. Do you need to sell quickly so you can buy a new home? Are you moving and unable to support two mortgages? Keep your timeline in mind while following the rest of my recommendations.
First Steps on the Path to Preparing to List Your Home
So, you have figured out your timeline. Fantastic! Your timeline will be important in choosing and researching all future steps. Don’t undertake a home project if you won’t have time to complete it before you home is up for sale.
Paperwork Gathering and Research
I have said it before and I’m sure I will say it again; asking the right questions produces better answers. Answers you can use to sell your home. In this phase, you want to do three main things.
1. Gather all your home documentation. Grab everything from the original sales contract to the documented changes you have made while owning the home. Here is a good list from NOLO on Organizing Paperwork for Your Home Sale.
Research your home’s value and your current mortgage. Yes, a listing agent will be looking at your home to place a value on it, but you should always do the research yourself. Empower yourself. This way, when you do go to find an agent, you know if what they are providing you is on track with your research.
2. In fact, there are quite a few things you should do before even speaking with an agent. Bankrate has done a great job of presenting these in a cartoon with the characters Doofus and Decent, both homeowners preparing to sell their home. Read all their advice: 7 home-seller to-do’s before hiring agent.
3. Find a knowledgeable Realtor familiar with your situation and locale. We all know Realtors are not all created equal. Some do more than others, and some just seem to avoid phone calls. If you are thinking about selling the home by yourself, I suggest reading: FSBO How Hard Can It Be?
If you already know you need a professional to help you with your home sale, here are some tips. Make sure you research every potential Realtor online. They should have public profiles and an online presence. Start by making sure they have a profile on Realtor.com. Remember, most real estate transactions start online these days. Your Realtor should have experience in your desired location. Don’t be afraid to ask how they will be different from other agents in the area and how they plan to market your home. Ask for specifics! The dollars are in the details.
For more tips on finding a Realtor:
Wiki: How To Find a Good Real Estate Agent
US News: 9 Red Flags to Watch for When Picking a Real Estate Agent
Zillow: How to Find and Keep a Real Estate Agent You’ll Love
Preparing To Sell: The Home Itself
Not to keep kicking a dead horse, but my recommendations on this subject are still important. “A clean, staged, buyer-prepared home can sell so much faster and for more money.” Make sure you start with “taking the home out of your house”. Yep, this means decluttering and putting away your prized POG collection from the early 90’s. Your home should be clean, inviting and in working order.
Follow these tips:
5 Home Staging Tips Every Seller Needs to Know
Once your house is ready to go, make sure you ask your agent if they believe any minor upgrades or maintenance should be done to enhance the wow factor of your home. You don’t want to spend too much if you won’t see a return. Words to live by here…Curb Appeal.
If you need some ideas, this should help: 37 Frugal Ways to Add Value to Your Home
Going From Preparing to Sell Your Home to Prepared
You should have your home ready to sell quickly by the time your new agent lists your home. Make sure that when your agent lists the home you are ready to keep your home in tip top shape while it’s on the market so potential showings go off without a hitch.
Do you have anything to add on preparing to sell your home? Let me know in the comments.
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