The average house in the United States remains on the market for 39 days. This means that the average home sale takes more than a month on average.
With so many moving parts, the process of selling a house can get confusing. Unless you’re a trained real estate agent, it’s likely that you have no idea where to start.
Should you start taking pictures? Do you need to hire someone? Is it time to stage your home?
If these questions are swirling around your head, grab a pen and a piece of paper. We’re going to tell you everything you need to know about selling a house. Just keep reading.
1. Hire a Real Estate Agent
First, you need to start by hiring the right real estate agent. Selling a house is a long process, and you need an expert on your side.
If you’re not sure where to start, you can ask friends and family if they know of any agents that you should reach out to. You can also do a simple search online to find a real estate agent near you.
Before settling on an agent, you should review their website, consider their reviews, and interview them. Take your time and choose someone you get along with. You’re going to be spending a lot of time with them.
2. Determine the Listing Price for Your Home
One of the best ways to decrease home sale time is by posting a competitive price. You have to find the line between a price that’s too low and a price that’s too high.
Your listing agent can help you determine the right price by conducting a market analysis. Trust them to give you sound advice for the homes in your area.
3. Makeover Your Property
Take time to prepare your home for the sale. While it doesn’t have to be perfect, it should be clean enough for your online pictures. You may even have some visitors that want to see your home in person to determine if they want to make an offer on your home.
So, you should keep your home clean while you’re getting ready to sell real estate. You never know when your real estate agent could call with a potential buyer who’s looking to come by.
4. Develop a Marketing Plan for Your Home
If you hired a great listing agent, it’s likely that they’ll work on marketing before you give it a thought. They can help you list your property on the MLS and schedule open houses.
Your real estate agent can also develop targeted campaigns that may attract potential buyers.
You should consider hiring a professional photographer to get the perfect shots of your home. The kinds of pictures that you get affect the kinds of buyers you attract. Plus, you can attract more potential buyers (who may get into a bidding war).
5. Prepare for the Open House
Your real estate agent may want to schedule designated open house dates for potential buyers to come by. Open houses are extended periods of time during the day that potential buyers can swing by the home to get a feel for the property.
During this time, your home should be spotless. In fact, you may want to stage your home.
6. Learn How to Negotiate
Once you start getting offers on your home, you may need to negotiate with some potential buyers. There is always room for negotiation, so you shouldn’t feel pressured into accepting the first offer that comes along.
If your home has a lot to offer, you may be able to pick from several offers.
While you’re fielding offers, you should be working with your real estate agent. They can help you negotiate with potential buyers. In fact, they can negotiate on your behalf.
7. Schedule Important Dates
Once you’ve reached an agreement with a buyer, it’s time to enter the escrow period. During this time, you just have to wait for the closing and move-out dates.
Make sure that you’re thinking things through when you schedule these important dates. You should be ready to get out of the home by the time these dates come around.
Work with your real estate agent to schedule everything that needs to be done during this time, including ordering a title report, scheduling the appraisal, and inspecting the property.
8. Meet the Property Appraiser
Most of the time, the buyer’s potential lender will require an appraisal of the property. They require this to make sure that the purchase price for the home is fair in relation to property value.
You should coordinate and cooperate with the appraiser as not to raise any red flags during the process.
9. Help Out the Buyers
If there are any contingencies on the sale, you should work quickly to meet these before the closing date.
If you don’t meet these contingencies, the buyer has the right to pull out of the deal. Alternatively, you could have the buyer lift the contingencies with a reduction in the home price. Then, they could use the money to fix the problem themselves.
10. Get Ready to Officially Sell Your Home
Once you’ve gotten all of this done, it’s time for the closing date to arrive. Your agent should walk you through all of the paperwork ahead of the closing date so that you understand what you’re reading and signing on the closing date.
When the closing date comes, you should be ready to read and sign a bunch of documents. After both parties have done this, your home is officially sold and you can breathe a sigh of relief.
The Process of Selling a House But Faster
The process of selling a house is long and busy. All you’ll be doing for a month is focusing on your home sale.
If this doesn’t sound like the route you want to take, you could consider an easier way to sell. In fact, you can request a cash offer for your home today.
Go ahead and see how it works. Once you’re ready to sell, contact us.
