Selling a home can be an overwhelming experience. You’re leaving a place you’ve called home, and moving on to another place that will become your new one. This can make it a very overwhelming experience on top of all the questions that go along with selling your home. Here are the most common questions I hear from clients while selling their home:
How much should I sell my home for?
This is one huge reason hiring an experienced REALTOR is helpful while selling a home. REALTORs use comparable homes that have been sold in the area to gauge what the target sales price for your home should be. In addition to looking at the comparables, REALTORS look at your home and can add and subtract value from what your home has or is lacking from the other homes.
For example, a home that sold down the block that has a huge barn and cement driveway and approximately 2,000 house would not be listed the same a home of comparable size and acreage but has a gravel driveway and a shed. Same rules apply with homes that are more updated versus homes that haven’t been updated for several years.
Your REALTOR will know the best price for the market and the condition of your home. But don’t be afraid to ask your real estate agent for the comparable homes that they are pulling from so you are aware of what they are pulling from.
Do we have to put it on the MLS?
You don’t necessarily have to put it on the MLS (Multiple Listing SErvice), however I strongly advise all my clients to put their homes on the MLS. This allows all agents that can access the MLS to view your home and hopefully have a client to make an offer on your home. If you choose to forego this option, then it is up to the agent you are using to utilize their connections to other agents to find a buyer for your home. Sometimes even in the process of putting it on the MLS, agents may share with each other to find a client prior to listing but if that does not apply then listing on the MLS is your best and fastest option to selling your home.
Should I stage my home before listing it?
I don’t believe you need to go to great lengths to stage your home, but there are some minor things you may not think about that are nice to change slightly before listing the house. If you have extra pieces of furniture, it is best to remove them so potential buyers can see the actual size of the room and can picture how their belongings would fit in the room. If you’re a person who has lots of clutter around the house or has accumulated piles of stuff, now is the time to clean it up and put it out of sight. Buyers want to be able to see the home, not lots of extra stuff. Lastly, just making sure that everything is as clean as it can be. For more information on home staging check out this blog post on home staging.
Should I be in my home while it is being shown?
No. Potential buyers can feel intimidated by having the owner in the home and not say things they dislike or have questions about. Buyers want to feel free to speak what they are thinking with their agent, and it is the easiest to have you leave for the duration of the showing.
How will others find out about my home being for sale?
This always depends on the REALTOR you are using. I personally list homes on the MLS, and make sure the homes is also appearing on realtor.com and Zillow. I utilize my Facebook page to share with my followers as well as my business website and blog. Lastly, I put signs in the yard signaling that it is for sale.
Home sellers always have lots of concerns and questions, and your real estate agent is there to make it as easy as possible. If you need a real estate agent to help you sell your home, contact Sherry today. If you have questions about buying a home check out my common questions from home buyers.
