1. Find the right representative
The experience and knowledge of a dedicated real estate professional can be priceless. A good Realtor® forms a powerful team with his or her clients that makes it possible for them to have a smooth, successful, stress-free sale. Your Realtor will give you an honest assessment of what they think your home is worth and how quickly you can expect it to sell. As a starting point, you can have your agent complete a Customized Home Evaluation for you.
2. Determine your needs/wants for the sale and for your new home
Selling your primary residence can be tricky because you have to simultaneously be thinking about where you would like to buy. First, weigh your priorities – there is often a trade off between "time" and "price." Selling price is certainly important, but having a quick and efficient sale can often be worth accepting a slightly lower offer. Talk to your agent and make sure you’re comfortable with where your priorities are.
At the same time, you should be compiling a needs/wants list for the home you will buy. You will probably have to act fairly quickly when your house sells, so any amount of preparation you can do will serve you well.
3. Prepare your house for showing
Underprepared homes can be sales disasters. Your home will never get as much attention from potential buyers as when it is first listed, so clearing clutter, cleaning, making repairs, and putting your home’s best foot forward is essential. Many sellers today are conducting pre-inspections on their homes to find any issues in advance and repair them. This way, when the buyer's inspector comes through, there should not be any surprises. The key is not to “open for business” until your home is ready to be seen as favorably as possible.
4. Find out what your local market looks like
Being realistic about your market is the key to a smooth sale. Although there is a lot of national coverage on the state of real estate right now, each local market is different. Some areas continue to thrive while others are undergoing adjustments. There is no substitute for a professional real estate representative when it comes to local market knowledge.
5. List away!
Lots of photos and online exposure are the key to getting a good response for your listing. Working with an agent who is knowledgeable about website syndication is key - You want to have your home listed on as many websites as possible. The more people who see your home's listing means a larger pool of prospective buyers.
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