There are FAQ for home sellers that need to be answered before selling a home. Read on for important information whether you’re ready to sell now or later!
- What is the current market like? This is a popular question among home owners and potential buyers alike and with good reason; a home is the largest asset that most people have. Market conditions are always in flux and a good Realtor will be able to tell you about the current market conditions including average sales price, average days on the market, market absorption rates and more. I would be happy to provide you with the market stats for any area you are interested in. Knowing the current market in your area is very important before making any real estate decisions.
- What is the best time to sell my home? The answer to this question isn’t simple; truly the best time to sell is when you are ready. Yes, traditionally spring is a great time to sell but that doesn’t mean it’s the only good time to list. While spring is good because many people move at that time and are searching for a home there is also a lot of competition at that time as well. Fall, winter and summer can be great times to sell your home as well. Fall and winter means less competition and usually more serious buyers.
- How do I get my home ready to sell? This is another popular FAQ for home sellers. Having your home clean is vital to getting a good offer. Work on de-cluttering and getting your home clean both inside and out. Be sure to also focus on cleaning out closets; potential buyers want storage space and overly packed closets don’t translate to enough storage. If carpet is stained or dirty, consider having them professionally cleaned. It’s also important to make any needed repairs to your home. Replace light bulbs that went out, squeaky doors should be fixed, missing tile should be replaced, etc. Good pictures of your home are also necessary; online photos are the first impression that potential buyers get of your home. If the pictures aren’t well done, that could mean fewer showings and less offers.
More FAQ for home sellers; what about the price?
- Can I use Zillow to price my home? There are several different Real Estate sites that now offer pricing guidance. These sites generate prices from huge databases and they are not able to provide accurate detailed prices. They may be helpful in providing a general idea of your home’s value, but they are not accurate for determining a home’s true value. Pricing a home accurately requires detailed knowledge of the market the home is in and can be done well by a good agent.
- What is the difference between the list price and sales price? The list price is the actual price the home is listed at. The sales price is the price that the home ends up selling for. When you work with a good agent, they will be able to sell your home either for the list price or very close to it. A good agent will let you know up front about what a good list price is and also let you know how much you should expect to get in the end after negotiations.
- Should I price my home high to create room to negotiate? You may think that you should price high with the intention of settling on your goal price after negotiations take place. This is a very risky strategy as pricing a home too high can really scare potential buyers away. If you price a home too high and it sits on the market for too long of a period, this can reflect negatively on your home and cause buyers to think there may be something wrong with your home.
