Seller Tips

Step 1

Price your home accurately in this real estate market. For this, you should enlist the help of a reputable listing agent. You'll feel much better if you select an experienced individual who has the knowledge and experience, preferably in your neighborhood. Your agent will analyze comparable sales and prepare an estimate of value often called a CMA, for comparative market analysis. It is OK to compare the Zestimate at Zillow but note the variances your agent will point out because your listing agent has the education to provide you with a more accurate opinion of value.

Step 2

Ask your agent to advise you on preparing your home for sale. Most homes show better with about half of the furniture removed. If a buyer walks in the door and wonders if anybody lives in the house, you've done your job correctly. Consider home staging to boost your selling power and appeal. Painting is the single most effective improvement you can make. Don't let dings in the woodwork or scraps on the walls make your home reflect deferred maintenance. 

​

Step 3

Choose the best time to list your home. This time period will vary depending on your local community, time of year, and a host of other factors, including the state of your present real estate market. You basically get one chance to present your home to buyers that are shopping with hopes that it is appealing the first few days on the market.

Step 4

Ask about your agent's standard real estate commission before you get too far down the line.  Consider the big picture and benefits to you to hire an expert in real estate. Check track records for performance. Getting into a contract is only the beginning; you need to make it all the way to closing. Your home will not sell itself, despite what you may read or hear or the propensity of real estate websites to make the process appear as easy as the click of a mouse, it's not. To get the most money from the sale of your home, you will most likely rely on the professionals you have hired.

​

Step 5

Be flexible with showings. If home showings are too much of an imposition, consider going away the first weekend your home is on the market. Yes, it can feel a bit intrusive to allow strangers to trek through your home and check out your soft-closing drawers in the kitchen. The best way to sell your home is to let a buyer inside with her buyer's agent to tour in peace and quiet. Leave the house when buyer's agents show up. Anything you say can and will be used against you.

Step 6

Investing in a professional photographer is a must, or make sure you have some professional pictures to display of your home. Of course, if you have hired a top-notch listing agent, your agent most likely already provides professional photos. It's not enough to just get the angle right in the photo, the most popular photos are rich in color and depth, and they entice prospective buyers. Ask to approve the virtual tour or photo tour before it publishes.

Step 7

Review your listing online. Look at your home listing on various websites to make sure the information conveyed is accurate. Agents do their best to ensure accuracy, but since it is your home, you know the details better than anyone. If you spot a feature that is missing, contact your agent immediately and ask for an inclusion.

​

Step 8

Try to respond promptly to a purchase offer.  Many offers contain a date by which the offer expires. Notwithstanding, it can drive buyers crazy if they are forced to wait for a seller to decide whether to accept their offer or to issue a counter offer. Remember, if you are selling because you need to buy a new home, you are no different when you are a home buyer yourself.

Step 9

Line up your movers early.  You might find it is impossible to locate movers for the day you want. You can start packing before your home hits the market, which will give you a head start on the process. It will also give you peace of mind to be prepared. Selling can be stressful enough.