Home Selling Guide

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How to sell your home fast for the best price

Buyers don’t see your home the same way you do. They are very discriminating about its condition, the neighborhood and the price. An average buyer will view between 15-20, ranking yours among all the lot.
With this in mind, here are some measures you can take to ensure your home presents well to a potential buyer, and garners you the best price, quickly.

Be clear about why you are selling
Knowing the whys of your move determines everything from setting the price, to allocating funds for repairs and improvements. Is the price you obtain more important than how long your home is on the market? Do you need to sell immediately? Each why requires a different strategy. At the same time, you don’t need to reveal your why to anyone. Something negative might be used as a bargaining tool at the negotiating table. If someone wants to know why you’re selling, politely respond that your housing needs have changed.

Conduct thorough research before setting a price
Establishing an offering price is an investment in your future. Find out what similar homes in your neighborhood have sold for in the 6-12 months. Also check out the prices of homes currently listed. The price you ask should be within the range of similar homes in the neighborhood. If it’s too high to too low, buyers will question the reasons for this discrepancy. Your home could stay on the market longer than you’d like. You may also have to adjust the price and wind up getting less than you hoped.

Find a good real estate agent to represent your needs
A professional realtor is your best bet. This person has the educational background, the industry and community connections to work in your best interests.

Maximize your home’s sales potential
First impressions are absolutely critical. The look, the feel and the care of your home elicit an emotional response. Even before they walk in your door, a prospective buyer will try to imagine himself living in your home. Just like a new outfit, buyers want to see if this home will “fit” their lifestyle. Clean everything until it sparkles. Pick up, organize, throwaway, scrub, scour, dust and disinfect. Be sure to complete all minor repairs. Buyers are especially keen on work that may need to be completed.

Ensure all areas of the contract are covered
It’s in your best interests to disclose everything you know about the property. Failure to disclose could result in costly delays, litigation or even cancellation. Most importantly, if a buyer knows about an item, he or she has no future recourse. Be sure you understand all terms, costs and responsibilities.

Stay in your home until closing
It may be harder to sell a vacant home. Furniture, drapes and all the assortment of daily activities go a long way to create the warmth and comfort of a home. To some buyers, an unoccupied home could be seen as forlorn, forgotten and not as appealing. You might have to reduce your price, depending upon the buyer. At the same time, you’re sending the message that you’ve found a new home, and you likely need to sell fast.

Stay out of the way during showings
When buyers view your home, gently remove yourself and allow buyers to feel at home. By pointing out features, improvements and decorating items, that are meaningful to you, or you’ve spent money on, you could be seen as adding pressure to the sale. Best to leave the showing to your realtor.

Get pre-approval for your next mortgage
Prior to shopping for your new home, be smart and get pre-approval. This means you’ll have your financial matters in place, and you’re serious about making an offer.