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SELLING YOUR HOME
Dianne Curry, Real Estate Agent
My job is to guide you every step of the way to ensure the best possible outcome and a smooth transition for you and your family.
Home Selling Guide:
Selling your home can feel like an overwhelming task. The key is to break your to-do list into manageable steps. I will be with you each step of the way providing input and guidance to optimize the sale of your home.
Step One:
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Call me to provide an assessment of your home. Working with the most appropriate comps, I will make sure we get the right value established to maximize the sale price.
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Declutter: A key step in home selling is decluttering. Less is more to create an open airy space for prospective buyers to view. Find a storage facility in your town and ship off all your extras until you move to your new home.
Step Two, Before Listing :
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Hire a home inspector: Identifying issues early in the home-selling process lets you work the cost of repairs into your budget on the front end so they don’t cause issues with a buyer down the line.
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Tackle repairs: Review home inspection report with me to determine your repair costs and priorities.
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Set the stage: Create an inviting space that lets buyers see your house as their home. A great article from HGTV, covers. 15 Home Staging Tips. I work with the best stagers in the business and can help assess the right amount staging and investment required.
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Clean every nook and cranny of your home and surface until it sparkles. Have your carpets cleaned so they look like new and smell fresh and clean.
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It’s All in the Details: Think of selling your home like hosting a big party. You want to put your absolute best foot forward and stage your home to show off its best features. Slight changes in decor and staging can get your house picture-perfect so your photographer can capture it in the best possible condition. I have a lot of experience with what buyers would like to see in your home. Leverage my experience to set your home up for a successful sale. I promise I will make you comfortable throughout the experience and will partner with you on every key decision.
Things to consider:
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Apply a fresh coat of paint, this really helps a home look fresh and inviting.
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Hire a professional to deep clean rugs and carpets.
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Keep your décor colors neutral and try to depersonalize as much as possible.
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Take down most of your family photos so buyers can imagine their families enjoying your house.
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Closets are always important to home buyers, so create the impression of spaciousness by pairing them down and storing non essential items.
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Don’t forget to stage outdoors too. Tidy up your front porch, hang a pretty wreath, place nice planters near your entryway. Pressure wash home siding , fences and deck.
Step Three: Your home is on the Market, now what.... An offer will come in and negotiations between you & the buyer begin with the buyer’s initial offer. Pay close attention to these details at the contract stage:
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Purchase price
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Closing or escrow date
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Special allowances for personal property, home improvements and closing costs
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Contingency deadlines for the home inspection, appraisal and buyer financing
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Additional contingencies such as the sale of the buyer’s current home
How Long Does It Take to Sell Your Home?
Here are some of the factors that can impact your home-selling timeline:
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The hot (or not) nature of your real estate market. If you live in an area with a hot market, you can typically expect your home to sell faster than in markets where buyer demand is low.
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The season. If you want to maximize your sale price and decrease the time your home is on the market, listing your home in late spring is going to be your best bet. But that’s not true for every home or market. And ultimately, the best time to sell your house is when it’s the right time for you.
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Your home’s location, location, location. Details like what school your home is zoned for, which neighborhood the house is in, and how close your home is located to restaurants and shopping can also affect how long it takes to sell.
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Your home’s price point. Larger, more expensive homes can take longer to sell because the pool of buyers is smaller.
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The time it takes to get your home sell-ready. If you decide to take on some updates or repairs to your home before listing, your selling timeline will be longer.
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The closing process. If your buyers are getting a mortgage, the closing date is dependent on their financing. Your closing could also be delayed by home inspection or appraisal issues.
How Much Does It Cost to Sell Your House?
Here are some of the costs you may need to prepare for:
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Real estate commission. As the seller, you’ll be responsible for paying the real estate commission. Commissions are split between the buyer’s agent and your listing agent. Usually that commission is 6% of the home’s sale price.
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Staging your home. As you’re preparing to list your house, you could spend some money getting your house staged to optimize the appearance of your home.
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Repairs or maintenance. You may decide to take care of some repairs, like fixing a leaky faucet, painting those scuffed baseboards or making minor tweaks to your landscaping.
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Fees negotiated in the contract. As part of your purchase and sale agreement, the buyer may ask you to cover a portion of the closing costs, title insurance or other fees. You may also negotiate repairs associated with the inspection report.
