So, you’ve made the big decision to sell your home and have listed it on the market. Whether you’re looking to find a different home in your dream neighbourhood in your current city or wanting to make a change and move to a different location, selling your home for the best price possible in a timely matter is essential.
Bringing buyers into your home to check it out and make an offer can sometimes be an uphill battle, but we have some real estate tips for sellers that will ensure you get offers that your home deserves. Between selecting a real estate agent that you can trust and figuring out the price to list your house at, there’s a lot to consider.
If you’re looking for guidance on how to sell property, read on for our top seven real estate tips for sellers.
1. Have a Home Inspector Evaluate Your Home
Many sellers think it’s the responsibility of the buyer to handle a home inspection. Having a home inspector at the ready and already having conducted a pre-listing home inspection can be beneficial for both you and the buyer.
You will be able to find out if your home needs costly repairs and you can make them before a buyer’s home inspector comes in and finds them. If you don’t do a home inspection until after a buyer makes an offer, repairs can sometimes take weeks and you could potentially lose the offer.
Addressing any repairs before a buyer comes into the equation will help you avoid them trying to negotiate lowering the price due to repairs. You will guarantee you get your asking price or above if you’ve addressed the issues already.
2. Stage Your House
Never underestimate the power of proper staging. If you’ve had a few open houses already and haven’t had an offer made, evaluate how your home appeals to buyers. A lot of clutter and personal items around your home can turn off buyers. They want to be able to picture their family in the home.
Change any wall colours that are too bold and not neutral. If you have any style-specific decor, swap that out for something that could appeal to various design aesthetics. If your home inspector has pointed out any repairs that need to be done or upgrades, do as many improvements as you can.
3. Evaluate Your Agent
If you don’t feel like your agent is doing enough for you and your home, look into that. Your broker needs to be on top of the current market and know what’s going on in your neighbourhood. You should feel like your agent is going above and beyond to sell your home.
A quality realtor should have connections and answers to any of your questions. If you don’t feel satisfied, research a better-suited agent. There is nothing wrong with changing real estate agents when your property is already listed. They should be experts in how to sell a home and help you every step of the way.
4. Price Your House Appropriately
While your real estate agent should help you figure out the right amount to price your home, you also should be educated in that area as well. Sellers often have that number in their mind of what they want to sell their home, but that’s not always realistic. If you’re not getting bites on your home, it could be priced too high.
Other than reviewing comparable homes in your neighbourhood, you can also look into a home appraisal. Appraisers are professionals that will evaluate your home’s value based on the property itself and the housing market. They can let you know of any upgrades or improvements you can make to increase the value.
Be strategic with your pricing. Look at the features of your home and base your price around that. If your house is on a larger plot of land than houses around it or has an extra bedroom, use that to your advantage when pricing.
5. Update Your Home’s Photos
The internet is the first place buyers go when searching for a new home. Sloppy and unprofessional photos can discourage prospective buyers. If your home doesn’t look appealing during their cursory searches online, they might not even book an appointment to come look.
Quality staging and professional photos can go a long way with selling your home. You want to make a good first impression on buyers. During these times when there are more restrictions on viewings, look into having a video walkthrough made to give buyers a better idea of how your home looks.
6. Have a Plan in Place
If your home doesn’t sell during the timeframe you’d like, have a plan figured out beforehand. The real estate market changes daily and you should be prepared for anything. That may require lowering the price or making changes that buyers are pointing out, such as small repairs.
Your real estate agent will be able to advise you on what a good next step plan should be if your house isn’t getting quality offers.
7. Negotiate, Negotiate, Negotiate
You are trying to get the best price for your home just as the buyer is trying to do the same thing. There are a lot of different factors that can come into play with negotiations during the purchase of a house. If it’s a buyer’s market, they will have the upper hand, but don’t feel like you need to give in to everything they’re asking for.
At the end of the day, your agent is your advocate and will advise you on the best course of action, including getting you your asking price or above that. Trust in a reliable real estate agent that has your best interests.
Follow These Real Estate Tips for Sellers
Selling your home can be a stressful and exciting time, but being prepared for any scenario will help you avoid any unexpected situations. These real estate tips for sellers will help you with the process.
Selecting a real estate agent that is professional and educated is the important first step in the process. Contact us at Trillium Team to get started on your home selling journey today.