A Short Guide to Selling Your First Home

Anyone who has been into real estate long enough knows that the home buying process is entirely different from the home selling process. Most home sellers are first-time sellers who intend to move from their current home due to job search, increasing family, or maybe just to experience a new neighborhood. They tend to run into several roadblocks because they are not familiar with the process. Which is why this guide was compiled to help you navigate your way through the real estate world.

1. Make Your Home Market Ready. A recurring mistake first-time home sellers make is to wait until their homes are listed before preparing it for the market. Such a delay can cost you both your time and potential buyers. Like every other commodity in the market, home buyers take the time to inspect a house thoroughly before closing the deal on the sale. Little home improvements will go a long way to increase your chances of attracting more buyers and closing the deal sooner. Therefore, it is advisable to take the time and run a complete makeover on your home before listing it. Of course, it involves putting out some cash. You should see this effort as an investment because it will increase your chances to upsell the house.
2. Get a Real Estate Agent. Hiring a real estate agent is a crucial step in selling your home as a first-time home seller. You apparently lack the know-how to strike and close a good deal. A professional agent, on the other hand, has all it takes to sell your home at the fastest possible time and the highest possible price. Be sure to evaluate more than one agent before choosing an agent with whom to list. The agent who helped you with buying your home is not always the smart choice when selling your home. Agents differ. Look for one who has a good record and not one struggling to find its feet in the real estate world. Why? Because your chances of striking and closing a great deal at the fastest possible time depend primarily on your agent. Go for the pro!
3. Timing! Timing!! Timing!!! You cannot overemphasize the effect of timing. Yes, location matters but the timing matters just as much. Endeavor to study the market and know the right time to list. The market usually fluctuates throughout the year. Learn about the sellers' market, the buyers market and the balanced market before listing. Listing during the sellers' market drastically increases your chances of selling your house faster and at a great price too. Know your market!
4. Set the Right Pricing. Pricing is one of the primary reasons some homes stay forever in the market. Who wants to buy an overpriced property? Nobody! Home buyers want to get the bang out of their buck. Therefore, it is safe to set the pricing after a careful analysis of the current market. This task is better handled by a professional real estate agent who knows the best pricing method to apply at different ‘states' of the market.

If you’re ready to put your home on the market, call a local realtor today.