How To Sell Your Home
So, you’ve decided to sell your home, but aren’t sure where to start? It is a good idea to get to know the real estate market in your area. Are you in a buyer’s or seller’s market? It’s time to find out how long the houses in your area stay on the market before they sell, and what kinds of factors contribute to the timely sale. You should also look at recent sales of comparable nearby homes to get an idea for pricing. If you don’t have a real estate agent this process can be extremely tricky, because not everyone has the ability to access this information. There are a lot of other websites out there that provide information on homes (Trulia, Zillow, etc) — but the problem is that they are grossly outdated and provide extremely inaccurate information in some cases. Your best bet is to ask your real estate agent to provide you comparables from the MLS, or Multiple Listing Service.
Once you have familiarized yourself with the market, the next step should be to have your home inspected and appraised. While it’s not required to do this prior to listing, it will give you a good idea of repairs that need doing, so you are not surprised later on. Be prepared for the extra expense if you’re going to inspect/appraise the home more than once, your agent can advise you whether or not this is a move that will benefit you specifically.
After you become aware of what needs fixing, either from comparable listings that have been successful, your agent’s advice, or a report from the inspection — you should take the time to do minor repairs. This is also the time to do a thorough cleaning of your home. Get rid of any junk in and around the home and property. Put a little effort into landscaping; trim overgrown trees and hedges, put in fresh mulch,spruce up existing lawns. Apply a fresh coat of paint to the interior and exterior. Have carpets cleaned, floors polished, or if needed, new carpet or flooring installed. Replace burnt out lightbulbs. Your home is basically going on a first date with a bunch of potential suitors, and it’s important that it look its best.
Prepare your home to be staged and photographed. The brighter and more open your home, the more likely it is to sell. Interview real estate agents. They will often have a preferred photographer and stager. If you have acreage, a drone photographer may be beneficial. If your home has a unique design, consider a 3D scan to better show special features.
Now, focus on marketing. Set a reasonable price. It is best not to overprice your home. If no serious bids have come through within a set time frame, be prepared to lower your asking price. It’s also critical to sell your home at the right time, when a lot of people in your area are moving. For example, not many people move in the dead of winter in Buffalo, New York, for a reason. New Orleans is a different story as it’s often an easier move in the cooler months. You’ll also want to make sure you have an amazing Open House.
The most important thing is that you treat this like you would anything else of the highest importance. If you have an extremely high dollar car, you’d probably trade it in or allow a salesman to take care of the logistics. If you have a surgery, you want a surgical team who knows the ins and outs of the procedure you’re going to have. The same is true for real estate, selling your home is a big deal and you need an expert agent to guide you through the entire process.
For more information on how to sell your home in the New Orleans market, contact Jennifer Fagan, Realtor ® at 504-858-6197 or JenniferFagan@kw.com.
Jennifer Fagan 