Making the decision to sell your house is not always easy. But once you’re ready, the market is certainly ready too. In this historic seller’s market, there is a scarcity of homes available, so most sellers are making top profits off their sales. But it’s not as simple as snapping your fingers and selling your house. So what should you expect during the sale process?
First, you’ll want to consider whether or not you plan to hire a realtor. For sale by owner may sound appealing at first, but consider all the aspects of selling a house. You’ll need to determine a comparable sales price for your property and prepare to be available to show your house to prospective buyers. You’ll also need to have a plan to advertise your property and prepare all the necessary paperwork. With easy access to MLS listings and experience in navigating real estate transactions, a realtor can help you avoid costly pitfalls in the sales process.
To locate a good realtor, do your research. Talk to friends and family members about their recommendations and experiences. Use online resources to vet local realtors, then interview a few. It’s important that you find a realtor who is trustworthy, knowledgeable and responsive.
Next. prepare your house. Step back and take stock of the property. Fix the little issues that need addressing, and clean and declutter. Although it’s a seller’s market, having a tidy house can make the difference between a good offer and an exceptional one.
Meet with your realtor to analyze the market, determine an asking price, and guide you through the necessary paperwork to officially list your property. She will put a “for sale” sign in front of the property and implement a marketing campaign to quickly spread the word to potential buyers.
Lastly, get ready for showings! Your realtor will inform you of when showings are scheduled. Of course, you can set parameters to minimize disruptions in your routine. But you won’t mind being inconvenienced in the short term when your long term property goals are met!
When you have an offer, your realtor will guide you through the offer and what its implications are. Once you have a contract, you’ll be kept informed of when inspections, appraisal, and the walk through will happen. Your realtor will communicate regularly with the selling agent to make sure the process is going smoothly.
When it’s time to sign papers, you’ll be glad you chose the right realtor to help you through what should seem to you an easy process. After all, your realtor did all the heavy lifting, didn’t she? Congratulations on selling your property!
