Selling your house can be a daunting task, especially if you're doing it for the first time. But don't worry, we're here to help first time home sellers thrive in their local market! In this blog post, we'll walk you through some of the most important things you need to do in order to sell real estate successfully.
Phase One: Make a Plan
If you want to have a successful home sale, your first must define what a successful outcome looks like for you. This means you need to do your homework (relax – there will not be a final exam!). Start researching online to get a sense of macro trends in real estate and what they mean for your home. Recent articles from reputable news outlets, blog posts from large real estate websites, newsletters from real estate agents, even speaking with friends and family are all valid tactics for your due diligence. Early on, every home seller should be open to any real estate tips, from any real estate professional.
If you’re a first time seller, it’s important to know… what you don’t know. Here are some questions that you should seek to answer. When is the optimal time to put my house on the market? How can my property achieve maximum real estate exposure? How much have comparable homes recently sold for? What is my ideal sale price / what is the lowest sale price that I’d consider a win? When do I need this sale completed (what is my personal timeline)? Finally, how much work do I need to do to get my home ready for sale?
Phase Two: Make Improvements
Once you’ve completed your preliminary research, defined some targets and preferences for your sale, you can start making sure your home is in top condition. This means repairing any damage, fixing any broken appliances, treating any lingering pest problems, and giving the whole place a good deep cleaning. You know your house better than anyone – don’t try to hide any problem areas as they will likely resurface later during the home inspection process and cause even greater headaches.
You may also consider larger renovations, but it is crucial to assess the time and costs associated with significant construction projects. If you determine the net impact on your sale is positive, then indeed you may greenlight renovation work. Curb appeal to home buyers is integral to the home sale process.
At the end of the day, first impressions matter in real estate, so you want potential buyers to come into your house and see a well-maintained property that they can picture themselves living in. This means keeping your home in tip-top shape as much as possible, so buyers don’t feel catfished by the staging photos they’ll see beforehand. Additionally, you may want to hide any personal items (e.g. family photos) that could introduce undesired bias to prospective caravans. You want your home to feel clean and welcoming!
Phase Three: Make Your Agent Earn Their Money
Your home is now immaculate and you’re ready to execute your plan. At this point, you’ve done everything in your power to maximize the sale; now it is time for a local real estate agent to get you successfully to the finish line.
An effective real estate agent will be able to help you through the entire process of selling your house, from start to finish. They'll be able to help you price your home competitively, market it effectively, negotiate with buyers until you find the right fit, and minimize closing costs. Selling your house without a real estate agent is possible, but it's much harder and more time-consuming, and introduces a ton of risks that a first time seller ought to avoid. You want an experienced agent who understands the local real estate market and can take care of everything for you.
Employing the right people and tools will guarantee a positive outcome for your home sale. Finding them is not always straightforward. At TrueParity we’ve created a platform for top-producing agents to compete for your listing with objective terms and cash bonuses. Finding the best agent for you is how we win, and more importantly how you win.
Conclusion
Selling your house doesn't have to be stressful or overwhelming—as long as you're prepared. Just make sure you have done thorough research, your house is in excellent condition, and you’ve chosen a high-performing listing agent. With these simple tips, you'll be well on your way to successfully selling your house in no time, at a measure of a success defined by you!
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