5 Selling Tips

Selling a home right now is still easier than it has been in years, but it is not fool proof. Buyers are desperate to buy homes and are willing to pay more- even though they are settling for less home or more costs; however, the curve is beginning to smooth out. Being a seller, you do have the upper hand, so make sure you play your cards right to stay on top. Here are five tips for a seller in this seller’s market:

• Make and keep your home show ready
• Know what is most important to you
• Decide on your preferred title company
• Understand that the best buyer isn’t always highest bid
• Be ready to move fast

Make and keep your home show ready

Today’s buyer will pay more than asking for a home, but they will be willing to go higher if they see that the home is well maintained and accessible, but most importantly, they want to be able to see themselves in the space. By decluttering your home and depersonalizing it some — take down some family photos, they see their potential to live there and personalize it to make it their own. The more a buyer can see themselves in a space, the more they will want to make it their own. Talk with your realtor and have them walk through your home to make sure that it is ready to show with the highest potential for the largest gains. This makes your home more desirable and demanding.

Know what is most important to you

Talk with your realtor about what is important to you about listing your home. For your realtor to do the best for you, they need to know if you are in a hurry to sell, if you are looking to sell and buy another property, if you need more money out of your home, etc. You also need to decide if there are appliances or items in your house with which you are/ aren’t willing to part. Some buyers may ask for items to be included, or they may ask to buy items with the house. Make a list of what is important.

Decide on your preferred title company

Everyone has a preference about certain things. If you have a preferred title company you desire to use for closing, you need to make this known. Title company fees for closing are as varied as their names. If you have a reputable title company you have worked with in the past and would prefer to use due to their professionalism and/ or fees, that is your call. Sellers with bank loans may have certain title companies with which the banks prefer to work; but most likely, there won’t be, so let your realtor know if you have a preferred title company.

Once you know what you want out of your home and the timeframe you prefer to sell, then you need to understand what is important to you in a buyer. Do you have time and energy to take a loan buyer, or do you need a cash buyer? Do you have a preferred title company you wish to close with, or are you open? Do you prefer a buyer who can cover some or all closing costs? These are all important questions for which you need to have answers prepared.

The best buyer isn’t always highest bid

As soon as you put your house on the market, prepare to have offers. Homes are still in demand, so this is still your market. When the offers start coming in, there are some things to keep in mind. You need to understand that the highest bid might not always be the best offer. Banks are making is harder to get loans, so buyers may have a harder time getting approved for the property once the bank assesses the property value. If the buyer does not have enough cash to cover the difference, you have lost your buyer and must put the house back on the market. Go over all of the offers with your realtor carefully and decide which one is the best offer for you and your needs. It might not be the highest, but it will be the one that gets you to closing.

Be ready to move fast

With the right realtor and the right buyer, you are going to sell your house fast, so you need to be ready to go. Closing can happen in 21 days. Can you be ready to move out and be relocated in that time frame? If not, start preparing as soon as you put the house on the market. If you need more time, don’t worry. You can always have your realtor include in the seller response a time frame in which to move after closing if you need. If the buyer really wants the house, they are likely to accommodate.

So, there are five tips to selling your home. Keep these in mind as you prepare to sell your house. And remember, your realtor is a professional. If they have recommendations, heed them. They want to sell your house as much as you do.