Selling Your Home

When you are ready to sell your home, there are a few steps to take to prepare and make your sell successful.

Use a Real Estate Professional

First of all, you need to work with a Realtor® who has experience and knowledge of the market. Interview at least two to three brokers from different agencies to find out who best works with your needs and makes you feel most comfortable. Be sure to ask each broker the same questions:

• How long have you been in real estate?
• How many houses have you sold in the past year? In this area?
• How would you market my home?
• Do you have any references?

Once you have chosen a real estate professional, together you can decide on a price that will help sell your home quickly.

You will be required to fill out a Seller's Disclosure notice that will detail any items that come with the house and their current condition. It is also advisable to offer a Home Warranty with your house. This can make your home seem more attractive to prospective buyers. Your real estate professional can assist you with these items.

Showing The Home

A home will likely sell faster and possibly at a higher price if it shows well. First impressions are very important when it comes to selling your home.

Curb Appeal

Clean the outside. Buyers begin to form their opinions by looking at the curb appeal of your home. Make sure your yard is well manicured, fix any paint or roof issues. The walls and windows need to be clean.

Clean Inside

Once the buyer walks through the door, they will notice the layout of the house. You need to make sure that all of the clutter is removed and that everything is organized. The potential buyers will want to visualize how they would space their own belongings in your home. If they have a bad impression upon seeing nothing but clutter and a mess, they will be less likely to consider thinking further about buying your home.

Extra Considerations

Lighting

Keep the rooms well-lit. This provides an inviting and warm atmosphere.

Temperature

If you are showing the home during warmer months, keep the air conditioning at a cool, comfortable temperature. If it is cold outside, make sure it is warm and cozy inside your home.

Smell

Fragrances can also aid in giving an air of comfort. Fresh flowers, perfumed candles, or even freshly baked cookies can mask over the smell from smoke, pets, etc.

Noise

Try to keep any extra noises from open windows, stereos, etc. to a minimum. Fix any squeaky floor boards. Noise can be distracting.

All of these efforts combined will make the process of selling your home a success. Remember, it does take some work and patience but the outcome will be well worth it. Let the home and the real estate professional do most of selling. Good luck!

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Becoming a Homeowner