Seller's Guide

Figuring out the right time to sell can help you make the process a lot easier and help you get the most of your sale price. Ideally, the best time to sell is in the Spring through Summer. However, there are many other factors that should come into play such as the local market in your area, tax incentives, and personally how ready you are. Doing in-depth research can help you specifically lay out a plan for the selling of your home.

Enlisting a good real estate agent can help you make the hard decisions to come. Asking around with friends and family is a start, but in the end, you want an agent that has experience working in the area you live in, so it will be easier to sell your home locally.

You want an agent with a proven track record and someone who can offer feedback through every step of the process.

You want to attract as many buyers as you can when putting your home on the market. Buyers usually get listings through the internet, social media, and other real estate agents. Other sources include yard signs, newspapers, and television.

The internet has helped real estate marketing tremendously. When looking online, buyers mainly want to see property photos, detailed information on the property, real estate information, virtual tours of the home, and neighborhood information.

Market your community as well as your home. Many buyers look at the neighborhood for their number one reason for moving into a home. Highlight your community’s amenities like school systems, parks, and attractions. Your real estate agents are skilled at presenting the relationship between the two so ask for their help.

That being said, using multiple advertising choices can maximize exposure such as using a multiple listing system, real estate websites, and networking in the local community.

When a buyer makes an offer on your home, they will use a contract to offer up their sale price and any other terms of purchase. You can either accept, reject, or counter the offer that will then lead to negotiation. Successive counteroffers will take place until you and the buyer reach a satisfactory agreement. For a successful negotiation: disclose everything, ask many questions, meet halfway on costs, and use your real estate agent for help because they know what’s best.

Start by getting rid of items that you don’t need by donating and/or having a garage sale weeks prior. From there, you can see the items that you need and start packing. Get the movers ready and schedule a time for them to be at your home. Separate valuable paperwork and other important things into one box. Do a change of address and forward any medical records if needed.

Lastly, walk through your home one last time to see you didn’t forget anything and take inventory of everything you have.