Owning a home is an inevitability for everyone. However, the journey and experiences differ from owner to owner and everyone has a noteworthy story to tell about it. Unfortunately, many people are often ill-prepared and jump into the deep end without wading in the shallow end first. Here at the Lucas Howard Group, we compiled seven tips that’ll help make your first time selling your home a comfortable experience.
Avoid seller’s remorse
Make sure you’re ready to move out and close this chapter of your life. Moving on from a home can be an emotional experience. You’ve had so many memories, both good and bad, so the reality of leaving can bring a bit of apprehension. We highly recommend making your emotional peace with the house before entering the market. The last thing a buyer wants is to negotiate with a seller who hesitates and drags their feet. You are under contract once you accept a deal, so have all the emotional baggage settled before stepping onto the point of no return.
Make sure you have a worthy agent
Finding an agent is easy, but finding a great one that will put in the effort and have your best interests in mind is much more difficult. Make sure the agent is right for you! Just because someone you know had a great experience with a specific agent does not mean they will be right for you, too! Agents are not products, they are people with unique dispositions and personalities, so it’s essential you find one that isn’t just good at their job but you’re comfortable with, as you’ll be spending a lot of time with them.
Also, it’s always better to pick someone who has made it a career. So if your roommate’s cousin’s girlfriend who treats real estate as a side gig is recommended to you, it’s best to turn it down. You want someone who will go the extra mile for you.
Understand your financial plan
It’s never a mistake to know the numbers ahead of time. This one can be pretty hard for many folks since money and managing the logistics is a whole language unto itself. The first thing we recommend is to get your house appraised for a market value. Then there’s your home equity (which is the remaining balance on your mortgage) and also all the fees, taxes, and agent commission that needs to be accounted for. For first-timers, this can be a bit overwhelming so work closely with your agent and have that friend or family member who is financially astute close by. The numbers and calculations will look different for everyone but also everyone should have the i’s dotted and t’s crossed before they enter the market!
Curb appeal
Curb appeal is simply how your house and front yard look from the outside. First impressions are everything, so it’s best to tend your yard as much as possible to make it look appealing! The nicer it is, the more market appeal it will have. So mow that lawn, trim the hedges, and maybe even give it a new paint job!
Home staging and showings
The interior is more essential than the front yard in the end and taking care of your house will do wonders for its value. Earlier we said to get a house appraisal but we also recommend taking on those house projects you’ve been thinking about beforehand. New floors and furniture will go a long way in increasing the dollar value. But making it look pretty for the appraiser is just the first step. There are also house showings. Allowing tours of potential buyers will help get the word out and create a bigger net to catch those offers. However, if allowing strangers into your house is something that will create anxiety, perhaps it’s best to have the showings when you are out of town or during your work hours, and leaving the tour to someone you trust. Above all, make sure it’s as clean and pristine as possible!
Know the best day to list your home
This one is self-explanatory but it’s also a bit tricky. Every town, county, and neighborhood is unique when it comes to home shopping and when they’re ripe for picking. Work closely with your agent on this one as they’ll know the landscape and most likely have sold homes in your area before. Find all the right websites to list your house and make sure all the information is consistent and accurate across the board. Like we said earlier, first impressions are everything.
Promptly respond to offers
In our first point, we said that buyers don’t want to negotiate with sellers who drag their feet. Offers will come at various hours of the day, sometimes inconveniently. It’s best to stay on your toes during this period, frequently checking for new messages, especially since most offers you’ll get have an expiration date. Most of all, the buyers are on a strict timetable just like you and nobody wants to have their time wasted. Even if you don’t like the offer, it’s still cordial for everyone to respond and try to renegotiate!
