The economy is constantly in flux and changing but when you stick to the New Rules of Real Estate, the results of your home sale will always be the same. With 45 years of business under our belt here at First Team, we know what works when it comes to getting the right price for your home.
If you’re considering putting your home on the market, here are some helpful tips.
Start Early
Rise and shine, it’s real estate time!
A lot goes into selling a house. It will surprise you how long it will take to get the house ready for showing, find the right realtor, negotiate, close the deal, and move. The earlier you start, the less pressure you will feel. This will prevent you from signing a deal lower than you want, and it will prevent you from rushing important financial paperwork.
Many people think that they can sell their home on their own. Unless you have extensive experience in real estate sales, this is a large deal that is best left to the professionals. Furthermore, if the house is a for-sale-by-owner (FSBO) property, you can expect an automatic reduction in the sales price of about 6%- the typical commission cost of a realtor.
Use a Trusted Agent
Another important reason that you will want a realtor is their knowledge of real estate law and the liabilities you take on as a seller. Save yourself the hassle and legal troubles and talk about your responsibilities as a seller with a First Team agent.
Get Your Home Inspected
Getting your home inspected will allow you to understand exactly what will need to be done to get your home ready to sell for the new owners. A simple inspection that will only cost a couple of hundred of dollars can make you aware of expensive repairs. This inspection will allow you to accurately include the cost of repairs into the budget for the entire sale.
Be Willing to Negotiate
Negotiation is the key to any business, and it’s no different in real estate. Some people may give you an offer that insults you. Don’t necessarily stop negotiating with that person. Respond with your counter-offer and go from there. The more open you are to negotiations, the better your offers will become.
Remove Your Belongings
Removing your belongings is one of the first steps toward staging your home so you can get top dollar. Seriously, did you know staging your home can increase the value of your home by as much as 15%?
Give buyers a blank slate to view when the time comes to view your home. This means you want to get rid of pictures and other personal items and leave it to the basic furniture. Removing your personal items allows the possible sellers to put their personal items in the home.
This guest post is written by Rachelle Wilber, a freelance writer living in the San Diego area. She graduated from San Diego State University with her BA in Journalism and Media Studies. When she isn’t on her porch writing in the sun, you can find her shopping, at the beach, or at the gym. Follow her on twitter @RachelleWilber. Informational credit: Real estate law in Brookfield, by J Peterman Legal Group.
