So You've Decided to Sell Using a Realtor. What to Expect...

With the decision of using a Realtor to get top dollar, here are a few things to expect:

1 Complete home improvements and repairs when necessary

Preparing to sell your home typically takes some work, whether thats your own sweat equity or some professional improvements. After all, you want buyers to fall in love with your home, like you did when you first bought it. If you need to sell the home As-Is, please discuss this option in detail with your Realtor. They will be able to give guidance as to what you will deal with. Each case is different. Spend some time getting your home move-in ready, in a way that will appeal to the broadest range of potential buyers. Think of it like selling a used car. If a buyer sees two identical autos, in make, model, year, color, etc...and one is in tip top cosmetic condition, detailed and checked out by a mechanic,. The other is fresh off the rainy streets with yesterdays burger bag in the back seat. Which do you think a buyer will opt for? Will they pay a few extra bucks for the prettier auto? IN our over 30 years experience in Real Estate, the answer is easy...You bet!

Preparing your home for sale will depend on the current condition of your home and what buyers in your area are looking for. Your Listing Agent will be a big help in identifying the items that should be on your to-do list.

Increase ROI with popular improvements:Most buyers look for updated homes that are ready for move in. Discuss which updates will give you the most profit.

Dont forget curb appeal:Once the first impression is made, its too late to change their mind.

Consider a pre-inspection:While its likely that your buyer will do an inspection as part of their purchase, they will be looking for ways to renegotiate. The favorite way is claiming the home is in poor condition. A 250 inspection can easily save you thousands of dollars.

2 Stage your house and get it ready for potential buyers.

Homes that have been professionally staged usually sell for 3% more than the anticipated price which makes the process well worth the expense, according to the Mortgage Daily News... Overall, home staging helps the house sell quickly and for more money. Staging Associations have run studies that show that percentage to be higher.

Declutter, clean and depersonalize:Too much stuff in a room can make your home feel small, crowded and lacking in storage. And having too many personal items, like family photos, can make it hard for buyers to picture themselves living in the home.

Select a Staging plan that fits your needs:There are multiple degrees of home staging to choose from, based on your budget, timeline and how valuable staging is in your local area. Somestaging can be done in a DIY manner, while other larger staging projects are typically completed by a professional.

Pare down pets and kids belongings:While many buyers are pet owners or parents of young kids, they want to visualize their own families in the home, not yours. Take the time to repair pet damage, remove pets belongings, and clear away kids items like gates, highchairs and piles of toys.

According to theNational Association of Realtors2-19 Staging Profile...

When staging a home, 22 % of sellers agents reported an increase of
one to five percent of the dollar value offered by buyers, in comparison to
similar homes. Seventeen percent of respondents stated that staging a home
increased the dollar value of the home between six and 10 percent.
Twenty-eight percent of sellers agents stated that there were
decreases in the time on the market when the home is staged.
The most common home improvement items agents recommended to
sellers were decluttering the home (95 percent), entire home cleaning (89
percent), removing pets during showings (83 percent), and carpet cleaning
(78 percent).

3 Price your home competitively

Finding the right listing price for your house can be a challenge, but its one of the most important factors in a successful sale. Houses that are accurately priced are more likely to sell in a timely manner.

Research comparables:Also known as comps, comparables are records of recent homes that have sold and their sale price. Its important that the comps you use as reference are of a similar size and condition as yours, and in a very similar area the closer to your home, the better. Your Realtor will pull these comps and go over each with you. They may also have some Active listings ready so you can see what your competition is. Between both sold and active listings you can make an educated decision.

Hire an appraiser:Having a professional appraisal done on your home can cost between 450 and 800 (I typically see 475-575), but it can be a small price to pay if it helps you sell your home quickly and for an appropriate price. There are particular circumstances where this may be a good option. Discuss it with your Realtor.

Your List Agent is your advocate:Your Realtor is a great resource for finding the right listing price. Plus, they can provide guidance on a pricing strategy that will spark the most interest and maybe even inspire a bidding war. I like to provide my clients with multiple scenarios. It is the clients choice as to which scenario will be in their best interest.

4 The Wait

If your home has been on market for a while and isnt selling as quickly as you hoped, you may need to review the steps above. Maybe discuss with your Realtor which items would help move your home faster. After the showings we will ask the showing agent for feedback. This will give us an idea if there is anything you can do to help make the house compete better with the other homes for sale in your area. Expect to hear things you wont agree with. Everyones opinion is different, and if there are multiple responses about the same item, even though it may not be correct, the goal is to win them over and get your house sold, so never take it personal.

5 Move Out

Plan for moving costs: No matter where youre moving, moving is expensive and time-consuming. Even a local move of less than 100 miles, serviced by two movers and a moving truck, has to charge to cover there time, mileage, gas, labor and insurance. Call to get quotes with plenty of time to find family and friends willing to help if you cant afford professionals.

The balancing act: Not only is moving expensive, but the timing is crucial. If youre buying and selling simultaneously, you might consider temporary housing so you dont have to worry about timing your sale and purchase perfectly, which rarely happens. This is most important when children and pets are involved.

6 Fulfill closing obligations

When it comes time to close on the home, you as the seller are responsible for some legal documents and processes.

Complete repairs and obtain certifications:If you are completing repairs as a condition of your inspection negotiations, it is your responsibility to complete those tasks before closing, and often times a week prior so the repairs can be inspected by the appraiser or buyer.

Review expected closing costs:Selling a house can be expensive, so review your estimated closing costs ahead of closing day to prepare for the charges youll see. Closing costs for sellers can be as high as 8 to 10 percent of the sale price of the home, and that amount is made up of your agents commission, the buyers agents commission (which is typically paid by the seller), and prorated taxes and fees. But, assuming you have some equity in the home youre selling, these costs will come directly out of the profits youll be receiving upon closing.

7 Closing Day

Sign documents:One of the very last steps is showing up for your closing appointment, where youll sign all the legal documents related to the sale of your property.

Hand over keys:The keys are handed over to the buyer once everyone signs their closing documents, the lender has sent the funds to the Title Company, AND the Title Company has written the payoff checks to all necessary (like prior mortgagor, contractors, lien holders, and your net proceeds).