So you just got that new job you’ve been searching for, but it requires you to move and sell your current home. Now what? With everything else you have going on, the added stress of having to take care of your home, get it ready, list it for sale, pack it up, and move seems rather complex. The process of selling a home has many factors that contribute to the process. These include cleaning, staging, adding curb appeal, making minor repairs, marketing, finding a buyer, negotiating a deal, packing, and moving. Knowing all of these factors and understanding the process and how it works is essential to a smooth operation. Several key factors will also ensure that selling your home is less stressful and doesn’t interfere with your happy news.
Terri Thayer, a Florida native and a real estate professional, outlines several things which will help you along your journey.
Hiring an expert agent
The first thing you’ll want to do is acquire an agent that’s an expert in your area. Having an agent with an inner knowledge of the market and your best interests at heart will ensure a smooth process. To find an agent, you can look at various agent websites in the area and compare statistics. These include past clients, licensing, credentials, accolades, recently sold homes, and reviews. Furthermore, you can look at their social media, talk to neighbors and friends, and visit open houses to meet local realtors that might fit your preferences.
Though it’s possible to sell your home without an agent, those listed for sale by the owner tend to sell for less. Unless you have plenty of time and energy to devote to marketing the home, pricing it, and understanding the market, consider partnering with an excellent agent.
Prepare and stage the home
This is essential in selling a home and can make an impressive difference in how long it takes and how much money you earn. It’s also a relatively simple step, whether you choose to do it on your own or hire a company. There are several things that help make your home stand out and sell much faster, so let’s talk about them.
Deep clean and de-personalize
The first step is to do a deep cleaning of the home. Hire a cleaning company to do this so that you ensure everything from the baseboards to the window sills and ceiling corners are covered. An expert company will tackle the process efficiently and ensure that your home is in impeccable condition before you list it. Also, remove unnecessary items from the house. These include photographs, knick-knacks, children’s toys, and personal belongings. You want to create a blank slate for potential buyers to be able to visualize themselves living in the space.
Upgrades and repairs
You’ll also want to hire a home improvement company to make minor upgrades and repairs if necessary. Add a fresh coat of paint to the interior and exterior, preferably in neutral shades. Clean or replace carpeting, repair flooring, add or remove drapes to bring in natural light, update light fixtures, replace broken tiles, and any other minor repairs or adjustments.
Curb appeal
Hiring a landscaping company to tackle curb appeal is another excellent idea. The curb appeal is a buyer’s first impression of your home, and you want it to be great. The lawn, landscaping, flowers, lighting, and exterior design affect buyers' views of your home. Capitalize on this by having someone with expert knowledge come and create spectacular curb appeal for you.
Set the stage
On the inside, you’ll want to hire a staging company to professionally model the home for showings. Any quality company will have the knowledge on how to stage your home so it stands out in the crowd, highlighting special features and amenities. Not only will it make your life a bit simpler, but staging your home can increase profits if done correctly. Ensure you find someone who knows luxury real estate and will work with your home’s unique character.
Choose your list price carefully
When you’re in a hurry to move and have a lot going on, it may seem like listing your home higher or lower will move it faster. The right listing price is essential in selling your home quickly and for top dollar. If the home is priced too high, it will spend more time sitting on the market and get less traction, which makes it less appealing. If you price it low, hoping to sell it faster, you will sell yourself short and make less profit. Neither one of these are places you want to be.
There are a few ways to understand how to price your house accordingly. Using fair market value is an excellent option if you have a knowledgeable buyer who knows the property and the current market. Using comparative market analyses will also help understand how similar homes in the area have been selling. Finding homes with similar sizes and features and studying their sales data helps. You can also use a home valuation tool to get an idea of your home's value.
Of course, this is also where having that expert real estate agent gives you an advantage. Your agent will have the knowledge and tools to work with you in pricing your home correctly from the start.
As you can see, there are several ways the selling of your home can be simplified, especially when tackling other things like a job change in addition to the sale. One of the most significant factors is hiring exceptional companies, from real estate agents to home improvement companies. Doing so helps take the stress off your shoulders and allows you to focus on your new job. When you’re ready to get started, or if you’re interested in homes for sale in Siesta Key, contact Terri Thayer at JT Home Team.