The good news is that you are already familiar with the real estate market. Indeed, you have been a buyer! The bad news is that selling your first home isn't as easy as buying a home.
But that's not a problem. Our seller's guide provides an overview of all aspects of the home sale process and provides practical tips for preparing for viewing.
- Create a battle plan
Creating a plan to sell your home is essential for prioritizing the sale and avoiding confusion throughout the process. The most important things to include in this sales plan are:
- A clearly defined reason for taking the plunge. Why are you selling your house or apartment?
- An overview of your priorities for this sale: Are you more interested in a capital gain or a quick house sale?
Additionally, your plan should include the following
- The best time to put the house or apartment up for sale
- A rough estimate of the costs associated with the sale
- How to better prepare the house for visits
- Set a competitive price for your accommodation
- Determine how you are going to sell
Perhaps the most important decision you have to make is how to sell the house.
Sell the house or apartment yourself, with a person-to-person transaction. You manage all stages of the process, from marketing to administrative documents, including closing preparations or Hire a real estate agent who does all of the above for you.
- Determine the best time to sell
If your finances allow then don’t be too quick to make a sale. Wait for when market turns in your favor, but don’t wait so much that you let a good offer pass by.
- Estimate your costs
Some of the costs are to be taken into account either in the sale price, or directly to be taken into account at your expense:
- Real estate agent commission fees
- Preparing the house for sale: cosmetic renovations and eventual renovation
- Vendor's concessions during negotiation
- Closing costs and various taxes
- Prepare your house or apartment for sale
This constitutes both, the cosmetic look of the house as well as its functionality. Make sure all the repairs are done and everything is in working order. All the renovations and repairs are done before the sale and also that the house looks aesthetically pleasing for potential buyers.
- Set the right price
Determining the selling price of your home is often the trickiest part for sellers. Too high and your house could go on forever in the market. Too low, and you lose money, which you rightly deserve.
Some important questions to ask when pricing a home:
- What are homes with similar characteristics worth in my neighborhood?
- Does my house have any extraordinary features that increase its value, such as a swimming pool?
- Is this house as well maintained as those recently sold in the neighborhood?
- Bet on professional photographs
According to the majority of real estate agents, 90% of buyers search for a home online. That's why taking high-quality photos is the best way to create a positive first impression on your home. Much of the initial interest arises when the home first becomes available. So it makes more sense to take the photos before the house officially goes on the market.
- Keep the house or apartment clean
Once your home is put on the market, potential buyers interested in a new listing will contact you. You may have several visits over the next few weeks, so it's important to keep your accommodation looking its best. You will need to consider the buyer's schedule and show a clean house at all times.
- Keep your cool
Selling homes can be bitter for some people. It is important to stay in step with your decision to move forward and to remember the reasons why you are selling. As well as the goals you want to achieve after the sale.
- Accept an offer
If you receive a competitive offer that is lower than the advertised price, do not hesitate. But if the sale of your home remains a priority over the amount of the sale, determine the amount that works best for you and sell with peace of mind.
Finally, if your home has been on the market for a while without too much activity, you may want to consider lowering your selling price. This process can take several months if, like most sellers, you overestimate the value of your property.