When a homeowner decides to sell their home, they expect the process to be done within days, but that’s not always the case. Selling your home can be extremely complicated, especially if it’s your first time.
The reasons why people want to sell their homes can vary from individual to individual. On average, people in Canada stay in their homes for around 10 years before deciding to sell. Finances are not the only reason why homeowners decide to sell, sometimes the emotional factor plays a huge role in this decision.
If you are determined to sell your home, set yourself apart from other sellers by bolstering your real estate knowledge with these essential tips.
Hire a real estate agent
First-time sellers should always work with a professional broker for a smooth process. A professional broker or real estate agent will provide support throughout the entire process and ensure that both parties are satisfied with the end result. When working with a real estate agent, selling your home will be a breeze and you won’t have to worry about the paperwork, creating a selling plan, and developing a strategy for selling the property.
If you live in a densely populated area, it’s possible that there are hundreds of properties already listed for sale. That’s why you will need the help of someone who is familiar with the local real estate market. In addition to that, a real estate agent can help you avoid potential problems during the home-selling process.
Before you sell your home, it is a good idea to have a home inspection. Call a home renovation professional or do it yourself to find any possible defects. If you invest money in the improvement of structural and mechanical issues, the value of your house will increase.
Replacing the damaged items with newer ones, replacing the floor, or changing the roof are all great places to start if you want to improve your house. To ensure that your house will sell fast, make sure that the buyer doesn’t have to worry about broken windows or a damaged HVAC system.
That being said, avoid wasting money on unnecessary purchases, such as new TVs or curtains. You should prioritize the essentials and leave the rest to the new owners.
Set a reasonable price
Before listing your house, you can work with a broker to research the local real estate market to establish a reasonable price. This will give you an opportunity to see other houses for sale and help you set a higher price for potential buyers.
A high price can turn away buyers, while a price too low will cause you to lose money and make no profit on your initial investment.
Furthermore, a lower price is risky as it can make your home look less valuable and discourage serious buyers. So, avoid pricing your house too low or too high and work with professionals to find the best price for your property.
Hire a professional photographer
Although it may seem quicker and cheaper to take a few photos of your home with your smartphone, poor listing photos can make your home stay on the market longer than it has to. Set aside a few hundred dollars for professional real-estate photos and have a photographer take captivating photos of your home to lure in more potential customers.
Let in as much natural lighting as possible by opening the blinds and replacing old lightbulbs which will allow the photographer to capture the essence of your house.
Be open to negotiations
Now that you have listed your house, you can wait for potential buyers to arrive at your door. However, don’t rush to accept the first offer. Instead, negotiate with every client. You can respond to an initial offer by providing a counteroffer. Remember that people will want to purchase your home at the lowest possible price and you should not allow that.
When the offers start piling up, consider only the serious offers, and don’t waste your time on lowball offers.
Conclusion
There are many factors that can influence your decision to sell your home and move to a new place. Home selling involves more than simply posting professional photos to any online home listing site and waiting for potential buyers to contact you. To avoid any potential problems and get the best deal, consider hiring a real estate agent.
