When it comes to selling your house, timing is everything. Picking the wrong time to list your home could cost you in missed opportunities. But picking the right time can lead to a faster sale and a higher final price. There are many factors that go into deciding when is the best time to sell your house. Some of these factors are more objective than others, such as comparing the price of similar homes currently on the market.
Other considerations are subjective and require more personal judgment. Like whether you’re ready to move or if there will be repairs needed before putting your house on the market. Here are six things you need to do before you list your home if you want to get the best price and fastest sale possible.
Know your market
Knowing your current real estate market is the first of things to do before your list your home. What are houses like in your area selling for now? How long are they staying on the market? Are properties are being bought as fixer-upper projects? How much are they going for after renovations? These are the types of questions you need to know the answer to before you put your house on the market.
Choose the right Realtor
This may be obvious to most people who are plan to list their home for sale, but choosing a good real estate broker is essential if you want to sell your home for the best price. The best way to approach this is to talk to two or three different real estate brokers and ask relevant questions. Examples of good questions to ask are “how many homes do you list each year” or “what is your marketing strategy for your clients’.
Depending on their answers, you may have some follow up questions as well. The most important thing to remember is that your real estate agent will be your partner throughout the entire home selling process. They should be helpful and available when you need them.
Decide on your listing price
You probably already know that the final selling price for your house can be influenced by the price you set for it. However, the way this process works is often unknown to the average homeowner, so it’s important to understand how price determines final sale price. Of course, this is what your real estate broker is for.
You’ve probably heard the saying, “Price it to sell it.” This means that you should price your house at the amount that you think it’s worth. Pricing the home too high may lead to a longer listing time. But pricing it too low means that you may be leaving money on the table.
When comparing the asking price of your house to others on the market, you’ll want to consider a few things. First, are there comparable houses on the market? If so, what are they selling for? Second, what is your house’s condition compared to theirs? If your house is in better shape, you may be able to price it higher. Finally, what is the condition of the overall real estate market right now?
Hire a stager
Some people decide to stage their home themselves, which is definitely an option. However, hiring a professional stager can make quick work of sprucing up your house and making it look its best for the photos that go on the listing. Plus, staging your house will make it look like it’s been well cared for, which will appeal to more buyers.
Staging your house doesn’t have to cost a fortune. You can shop around for stagers in your area and find one that does low-cost staging. Once you’ve found a stager, sit down with them to figure out what you’d like them to do. Depending on the type of staging you’d like, the stager will either provide you with furniture and décor or suggest you buy it yourself and they’ll arrange it. Make sure you’re on the same page as your stager so the staging looks exactly the way you want it to.
Repair and maintenance items now
Although you may not want to put any money into fixing up your house before listing it, there are some maintenance items that you should address before listing the property. Not addressing issues ahead of time is one of the reasons that real estate deals fall apart.
What are the worst things about your house? When people walk in, what are the first things they see? What are the biggest maintenance items that you’d have to pay someone else to fix? These are the things you should address before listing your house.
Make a short list of things that will make your house easier to sell. You may not have to put any money into these repairs if they are simple DIY projects. Just make sure you are hiring a professional when necessary.
Conclusion
Now that you know what to do before you list your house, you can get started. Make sure you know your market, choose a good real estate broker, decide on your listing price, hire a stager, repair and maintenance items now, and you’ll be well on your way to a successful sale. If you’re ready to sell your house, timing is everything. Picking the wrong time to sell your house could cost you in missed opportunities. But picking the right time can lead to a faster sale and a higher final price.
There are many factors that go into deciding when is the best time to sell your house. Some of these factors are more objective than others, such as comparing the price of similar homes currently on the market. Other considerations are subjective and require more personal judgment, like whether you’re ready to move or if there will be repairs needed before putting your house on the market.