Preparing to Sell Your Home

Is it time to move on from your current home and sell?  If so, here are some things that will make the selling process go a lot smoother.

Are you ready?

Before you make any big decisions, make sure you and your family are really ready to sell.

·       Determine if selling is a good financial move by looking at your equity and current home value.

·        Think about the condition of your house. Do you need to make repairs before the house goes on the market?

·        Look at the local real estate market.  Are houses selling quickly in your neighborhood?

The cost of moving and your new home need to be considered before you make a final decision. 

Also, if you got all of the repairs done that the house needs, would you want to stay there?  Fixing up your house for potential buyers may make you remember why you bought the house in the first place.

If comparable houses in your neighborhood are selling quickly, then you could have a good chance at selling your house.

Getting started

Now that you’ve decided to sell you have some decisions to make. At Mariott Real Estate, we’re ready to help you sell your home in Bryan/College Station.

·        Find an experienced local realtor

·        Take care of needed repairs

·        Store items you don’t need offsite

·        Consider having professionals do a major cleaning.

Pack up as much as you can live without and put it in storage. This means cleaning out closets. Pack up your family photos and small decorative items that look like clutter. Make your house and especially closets feel spacious.

Fill holes in the walls and then make sure your interior is painted in neutral colors. If not, paint is cheap.

Hiring a professional cleaning service may be a good idea. They can give your house an extra polished look before buyers show up.

Check out this HGTV guide to home staging.

It’s time for the sign

This is where your realtor will really help. Determining the fair market value (FMV) of your house can be a little complicated. Your realtor can also list your home on multiple websites.

·        Determine the FMV of your home and your asking price.

·        Your realtor will put your home on the market (sign in front, listings on realty websites)

When you have a buyer

Your realtor can help you navigate contracts and will stay with you right up until the keys are handed over. Your house will likely be inspected and additional repairs may have to be made. One way to avoid unpleasant surprises from an inspection is if you get your own inspection before you put your home on the market.  However, since you know a buyer will likely be getting the house inspected at their own expense, there is an advantage in waiting.

Whether or not you negotiate with the buyer on price depends on the value of your home, the local housing market, and how much you want to get from the sale. Your realtor can give you an idea of what the real estate market is like, but the big decisions are all up to you. Hire a great realtor to stand by you.

Checklist for Homebuyers

If you’re in the market for a new home, here are some things you’ll have to consider before you buy.

Are you ready?

Before you being to search for a home in earnest, you need to make sure you are financially and mentally prepared.

·        Clearly answer the question: Why are you buying a home?

·        Figure out your budget

·        Gather financial records like recent tax returns, pay stubs, and bank statements.

First steps

Mariott Real Estate can help you find a new home in Bryan/College Station. Why do you need a realtor? Buying real estate is a complicated process that realtors in Texas are licensed and trained to handle.

·        Find a realtor

·        Shop for a home loan and get pre-approved

It may be tempting to run with the first company that may want to qualify you for a loan, but you have options. Look around and find one that’s right for you.

Getting pre-approved for a loan will help you determine what houses you can afford and what it out of your range.

Find your new home

Look back at why you want a new house and look at your new budget with the pre-approval. Find a house that will give you what you want in a house within your budget. If you wanted a house because you need more space, you obviously wouldn’t settle for a house that is smaller than what you have. Find a house that really fits your needs with help from your realtor.

·        Research neighborhoods

·        Come up with a list of things you would like to have in your house based on why you’re buying

·        Fall in love with the right house that is within your budget

The offer

With the help of your realtor, you can make an offer and negotiate with the seller. This is also the time when a lot of legal documents start to appear. It’s a great time to have a realtor on your side.

·        Get an inspection

·        Make an offer on the house

·        Negotiate with the seller

Get financed

If you followed your bank’s conditions on your pre-approval, this part should be easy. Hopefully, you found the best lender when you were looking for pre-approval. Now you just need to fill out the paperwork and finalize the details.

·        Contact your lender and fill out all of the paperwork

Closing

Your realtor will help you through the closing process.  This includes a title search and going to a legal office to fill out your paperwork on closing day. You realtor will be able to answer any questions you have. Realtors are trained professionals that understand real estate law and contracts.

The most important part of this process is having a professional by your side who can help you navigate the complicated process of buying real estate. A licensed real estate agent in the state of Texas is educated on the topic of legal forms and contracts.  Your realtor also knows the area where you’re wanting to buy a home. Take advantage of having a licensed real estate professional by your side.