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.