Preparing to sell your home: 5 steps
When you bought the home you currently reside in, you probably made some personal commitment and developed a personal and emotional relationship. For whatever reason, you have recognized and believe that it is time to sell your house and move out. However, since for most people, their home represents their greatest financial asset, doesn’t it make sense to proceed, in the smartest and most responsible way, to achieve the best results? If you make this decision, start by being as prepared as possible and proceeding wisely. With that in mind, this article will attempt to briefly consider, identify, review, and discuss 5 steps, which are a well-considered way to proceed.
1. Check your title: Consider your property and find out if there are any outstanding issues that may create challenges in transferring a clean title when you sell your home. These may include: building permits, which were never properly closed; work performed, without proper permits; any property – line crashes, which can be problematic; taxes or other links; etc.
2. Look objectively, not emotionally: It is often difficult for homeowners to objectively evaluate their properties, which is one of the essential reasons for hiring the right real estate professional, who might look with an objective eye. We all develop some degree of emotional attachment to our home, but it is important to acknowledge those wonderful moments and meaningful life cycle experiences, while invaluable to you, do not add value to potential buyers. Your real estate agent should provide you with a professionally designed competitive market analysis or CMA, in order to price your home correctly, up front.
3. What would you be willing to pay and why ?: Ask yourself, in an introspective, objective and honest way, if you were a buyer, looking at your home, what would you be willing to pay and why? Consider the strengths and weaknesses, and how it compares to other homes, for sale, in your local real estate market! A smart way to start is to look at some of the competition and compare objectively.
Four. Address needs and weaknesses: Once you identify the needs, weaknesses, and shortcomings, your home, in terms of how it might be perceived by others, will address them in a smart, rational, and productive way.
5. Hire the right real estate agent: Interview several real estate agents and consider what each could offer, what might benefit you the best! Ignore the rhetoric and promises, and don’t be swayed, but anyone who overstates their suggested listing price. Rather, make sure the professional you hire is someone you feel comfortable with, who is empathetic, responsive, responsible, and has a marketing plan for your specific home.
Prepare properly to sell your home and you will be best served! Protect your best interests, as well as your financial ones!