A straightforward listing process, finding a buyer quickly, collecting cash, and handing over the keys—a homeowner’s dream! But, in reality, selling your home can be a journey full of twists and turns, much of which is out of your control.

Given the growth in the housing market, there has been an uptick in pricing and bidding wars, resulting in low inventory levels. With the market cooling a bit, let’s look at how you can get your home sold efficiently.

Find a Trusted Agent

The internet and word of mouth make it simple to find the right agent for you and your home. But, not all agents are created equally. Before making a decision, learn the ins and outs of the agent’s experience, sales, and what designations or awards they have won.

Set a Selling Timeline

There is no universal timeline for selling a home—it all depends on the market conditions and the available inventory level. Because of this, prep your home months before listing so that you can identify problem areas, make necessary repairs, and deep-clean.

Pre-Sale Home Inspection

Pre-sale home inspections are a wise upfront investment. This inspection identifies structural and mechanical issues before listing. Staying a few steps ahead of the buyer, you may speed up the selling process by making your home ready to sell.

Don’t Make Unnecessary Upgrades

If you spend money on upgrading your home, ensure there is a high return on investment. In general, updates to kitchens and bathrooms give you the most bang for your buck. If you’re looking for low-cost upgrades, a fresh coat of neutral paint or new landscaping makes great impressions on buyers.

Professional Photos

Professional photographers know how to make rooms look bigger, brighter, and more attractive. Work with your agent to enlist a photographer to capture high-quality photos that maximize your home’s online appeal. Agents can also use those photos to create virtual online tours. Photos can quite literally make or break a sale! 

List Your Home

Once listing your home, focus on the appeal to prospective buyers. Staging your home and keeping it clean consistently will help with showings. Let someone else show your home, as it will allow buyers to imagine themselves in the space, free of the distraction of seeing you in your home.

Set a Realistic Price

Even in a competitive market, buyers don’t want to pay more than comps show. An experienced agent can help you capitalize on the market so that you don’t overprice or underprice—both scenarios being equally as devastating in the end. A real estate professional will look at comparable homes in your neighborhood and price it according to those market trends. 

Don’t Be Afraid to Negotiate

Once your home hits the market and potential buyers have seen it, offers will start rolling in. When receiving offers, you can either accept offers as is, counteroffer, or reject any of the offers. Make sure you are looking closely, though, as aspects such as contingencies, financing, and forms of payment could cause a snag. In a competitive market, this is where you can come out with a really great deal! 

Anticipate Closing Costs

Don’t forget about fees! Both the homebuyer and seller have closing costs. Other costs usually include government transfer tax, recording fees, outstanding liens, and attorney fees. Make sure to consider these when calculating your net takeaway. 

Closing Paperwork

There’s a lot of paperwork involved in properly closing a sale. The main documents you should gather are the original purchase contract, mortgage documents, tax records, homeowner’s insurance, and home inspection reports. Organizing it all in one place will move things smoothly.

Work With Us

Real estate agents can alleviate many of the stresses of selling and closing. They can process paperwork, review contracts and documents, and ensure that the sale goes smoothly. They may even be able to spot any issues that arise before a contract is signed! 

If you or anyone you know is considering making a move, consider our team! We can take care of all the ins and outs while selling faster & for top dollar! We sell our listings three times fast and, on average, for $30,500 more than when you work with another team by leveraging our database of OVER 15,179 qualified buyers in our Buyers in Waiting database! 

Did you know that only 48% of homes on the market last year sold the first time with the first agent they hired? Most sellers last year had to call a 2nd, or 3rd agent to get the job done, or even worse, not sell at all. The agent you hire the first time matters! Reynolds EmpowerHome Team sells 98% of our listings the first time, so when you hire us, your home is more likely to sell fast & for top dollar! To find out what we can do for you, Text or Call us at 804-655-0651!

Your Home SOLD Guaranteed At a Price You Agree to, or We’ll Buy It.* No Gimmicks!