Selling a home can be highly profitable if you do it the right way and at the right time. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you prepare for the process.
Deciding to Sell
- Decide on the timing
Timing plays an important role on the success of your home selling venture. The most favorable season to sell is during the spring and early summer. However, you can also take advantage of unique opportunities when you sell in the winter. - Find a Realtor to work with
If you want to sell your home fast and at the highest price, work with a real estate agent who can help you market your home effectively. Your Realtor will guide you through every step of the buying process – from pricing your home correctly and preparing it for the sale to negotiating with buyers and closing the sale.To find the right Realtor, ask for your referrals from friends and relatives who may have recently sold a home in your area. You can also check with other professionals who often deal in real estate matters, such as lawyers or contractors.
Preparing your home
- Together with your Realtor, go over your home and identify the areas the need repairs and improvement.
- Choose your improvement projects carefully. Certain home improvements have excellent ROI and can significantly improve your home’s value. Your Realtor can recommend the most effective and profitable improvements that you can make.
- Give your home a deep clean. Hire professional cleaners if needed.
- Improve your curb appeal by sprucing up your landscaping and your home’s exterior
- Stage your home. Home staging has been found in various studies to help homes sell faster and at a higher price
Pricing your home
It’s important to set the right price for your home from the start. Overpricing can cause the property to sit longer on the market than necessary, while underpricing can lead to lost opportunities.
Your Realtor can help you price your home correctly by doing a Comparative Market Analysis. This involves reviewing the prices of similar homes that recently sold in your area. Other market conditions, such as demand and supply, the number of days it takes for a home to sell, and others, will also be considered in the analysis.
Marketing your home
Marketing your home today involves more than just listing the property in the MLS and putting a “For Sale” sign on your yard. Your Realtor will help you develop a strategic marketing plan that will target the right buyers.
Some of the strategies that may be adopted include sending out flyers, email marketing, sending professionally made brochures to targeted buyers, advertising on select publications, and others. Your Realtor can also use their network to spread word about your home.
In creating your listing, use only high quality photographs. With 90% of home searches starting on the internet, professional photos can help catch the attention of buyers and make your listing stand out. Videos, virtual tools, and aerial photography are also effective in giving buyers a comprehensive and enjoyable home shopping experience.
Reviewing offers
Your Realtor will help you qualify buyers and review the offers you receive. Keep in mind that the highest bid may not always be the best one. You also need to look into the terms that come with an offer, including any earnest money, contingencies, and payment terms. Some buyers, especially investors, may offer to pay in cash and this could be a more attractive option for you.
Escrow, inspections, and appraisals
Once you and a buyer agree on the selling price and other purchase terms, you both sign a Purchase Agreement containing the details of the sale. The process then goes to escrow.
The buyer deposits their earnest money and down payment into the escrow, and works to finalize the financing for the home and remove all contingencies. The contingencies will likely include a home inspection. The buyer’s lender will also conduct an independent appraisal of the home. If the inspector finds serious problems with the property, or if the lender appraises the home lower than the agreed selling price, you may have to go back to the negotiating table with the buyer.
If you included any contingency of your own in the sales contract, the escrow period is also the time to work on removing them as well.
Closing the deal
If everything is in order, the process goes to closing. The buyer’s lender releases the funds to you, you and the buyer sign on the paperwork, and escrow is closed.
Choose a real estate agent with the right experience and knowledge of the local market. In Cobb County and North Fulton, GA, call the Page Morgan Real Estate Group. We’re a leading real estate firm in the area with over 25 years of experience. We know how to close the best deal for you. Get in touch with us at 770.579.5650 or email info(at)pagemorgan(dotted)com.
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The art of home staging: Tips and tricks to sell fast
Homeowners shouldn’t think of putting their residence on the market without fixing it up first. If you want to impress potential homebuyers enough to receive offers, you should make home staging one of your top priorities. This tried-and-tested technique can breathe new life to your home and make it attractive to a wide range of buyers.
In this article, we go over some of the best tips and tricks to stage your home. These include the best ways to boost curb appeal, simple home repairs you can do yourself, and the right colors to use for each room in your home.
Top Curb Appeal Trends to Apply in Your Home
When it comes to home selling, curb appeal is a significant factor. It forms the first impression that prospective buyers get of your home. Impressions count for everything when it comes to real estate. Working on the curb appeal can lead to an increased value in your home, and it can make it can improve the look of it significantly. There are many easy ways to add a fresh look to your curb and make it stand out from the crowd. You can learn about some of the top curb appeal trends that are easy to apply in your home.
Bathroom upgrades tips that can raise your home’s value
When you put your house back on the market, you should make sure to highlight all of its best qualities. Does your list of renovation plans include the bathroom? Believe it or not, it’s one of the most scrutinized parts of the house among homebuyers today. A lot of it has to do with the private and personal nature of how this room is utilized. If you are looking for ideas on how to spruce up your bathroom to make your property more sellable, click this link to get an informative guide on the features and amenities you can focus on in your renovation and home staging projects.
Winning Décor Tips for a Fast Sale
When it comes to selling a home, you don’t want it to stay on the market for too long. Aside from decreasing in value, homes that remain unsold for more than 90 days lead buyers to think that there is something wrong with the property. That’s why it’s important to make your home as attractive as possible so it can sell fast.
One way to do this is through your décor or the way you present your house to potential buyers. How your property looks on the inside and outside makes a huge difference because you want buyers to
Do you need to sell your home quickly? Check out the winning decoration tips in this blog post.
If you’re thinking of selling your home in Georgia’s Cobb County and the North Atlanta area, give the Page Morgan Real Estate Group a call at 770.579.5650 or send us an email at info(at)pagemorgan(dotted)com. For over 25 years, we have walked our clients through the most stressful times of their lives to make meaningful, informed decisions about buying and selling homes.
How to sell homes during a pandemic
Home buyers are not the only ones adapting to the “new normal” brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. Home sellers like you need to shake some things up a little, as well. The major shift is in digital marketing. It’s now more important than ever as it will help you generate buyer interest and entice serious buyers to make an offer, especially if they’re buying remotely. Then, you have to adjust your open house etiquette and limit the attendees to comply with social distancing guidelines and restrictions. These are just two of a couple of things you can do to sell your home during the pandemic. Click here to learn more.
Great reasons to hire cleaning professionals before selling your home
When you’re about to put your home on the market, one of the most important things you should do is to make sure it looks clean and brand new.
You can spend days dusting every surface, vacuuming every inch of your carpets, scrubbing every tile, and making sure everything looks pristine. But will all that time spent be worth it, especially if you have other tasks you need to handle? This is why hiring professional home cleaners is an excellent option. In addition to maximizing your home’s potential before it hits the market, hiring professional cleaners will also give you more time and energy to complete other tasks, or simply enjoy being with your family.
On this page, we offer several benefits of hiring professional home cleaners to help prepare your home for a sale.
Home selling done safely during a pandemic
Selling a home these days while in the middle of a pandemic can be quite a challenge. However, the real estate market continues to move forward and housing is still in demand. Most states have even declared real estate as an essential service.
As a home seller, it’s important to stay safe and healthy throughout the selling process. This includes changing the way things are usually done when it comes to selling a home. Face-to-face communication, in particular, must be kept to a minimum.
On this page, we offer several ways and ideas on how to sell your home safely during a pandemic.
The Hardball Approach to Negotiating on Your Home’s Final Selling Price
Home sellers wanting to maximize the earning potential of their house sale is nothing new. Every homeowner wants to secure the biggest return on their investment when they part with their property. However, this will always come in conflict with homebuyers’ desire to get the best deal for a new house. If you want to take a firm stance on your asking price when you sell your home, stick close to these negotiation tactics from the Page Morgan Real Estate Group. From determining the right asking price before selling, to deciding on strategic concessions, this list will help you attract the best offers and sell your house fast.
How a Paved Driveway Can Affect Your Home’s Value
In selling your home, a great first impression is important. In many cases, curb appeal is the single factor that can make or break a sale, and your driveway plays an important role in your home’s curb appeal. The ROI you get from paving your driveway depends on several factors, including the trends in your neighborhood and the materials you use. In an upscale community, using high end pavers like stone or brick can help improve your home’s value and make it more appealing to buyers. However, you can also achieve great results with lower priced materials, such as asphalt or concrete.
How to Prepare for the Home Appraisal
An appraisal is one of the last steps in the home buying process and it can make or break the deal. This unbiased evaluation of your property gives both buyers and mortgage lenders a clear picture of your home’s true worth. As the seller, it’s your job to ensure that the appraisal proceeds smoothly and that your house is assessed for the maximum amount possible—a task that is easier said than done. However, there are certain things you can do to ensure a favorable result. Take a look at these simple and actionable tips that the Page Morgan Team has prepared for you.
The New Normal of Selling your Home: Virtual Home Staging
Selling a home during a pandemic is not without its challenges, but innovative and forward thinking sellers can work around social distancing guidelines and safety measures with technology and a bit of imagination.
How long would it take to sell your house in Atlanta?
Preparation is key to selling a home. Aside from being familiar with the home selling process, it’s also essential to learn more about the local real estate market.
Each real estate market is different from the other, from the growth trends to property options to the time it takes to sell a home. This helps you manage your expectations and plan your home sale accordingly. If you plan on selling your house in Atlanta, GA, this article will give you a better understanding of the Atlanta real estate market and how it will affect the timeline of your home sale. Read all about it here.
How to maximize profits from selling your home
There’s nothing wrong with pulling out all the stops to maximize profits from a home sale, even in a seller’s market. Think of it as getting the most out of your investment. Selling during the warmer months, for example, means there are more buyers scouring listings, which immediately widens your buyer pool and sets up the possibility of competing offers. Pricing your home based on a comparative market analysis allows you to remain competitive if you have an idea of how much similar homes in your neighborhood sold for. You can also make sure the home showing experience is stellar – wow potential buyers from the get-go by showcasing your home’s best features. Read this article to learn about other ways you can get more money out of your home sale.
How to prepare your property for home inspection
A home inspection can be the critical last step when it comes to sealing the deal on a home. As a home seller, you will want to put your best foot forward when it comes to preparing for a home inspection. While the inspector has a specific list of areas they need to look into, making it easier for them to do their job can leave them with a good impression. That means clearing obstructions from areas of the house they need to inspect like attics, basements, and HVAC systems. You’ll also want to keep pets out of the way and, if your house is vacant, make sure all the utilities are running to avoid having to reschedule the inspection and consequently, delay closing. Read the article to find out more.
What every seller needs to know about counteroffers
If buying a home is a huge financial decision, so is selling one. Each step in the home selling process is essential, from preparing and marketing your home for sale to receiving purchase offers from buyers. One step that sellers must understand is the real estate counteroffer. As a seller, it’s important to learn about counteroffers and how they work since negotiations can be one of the trickiest parts of selling a home. This back and forth process between the buyer and the seller is also crucial to getting the best deal. Here’s what every seller needs to know about counteroffers.
How to price your home for sale
One of the most frequently asked questions we get from home sellers is “What is the best listing price for my home?” The answer depends on several factors. First, there’s the property’s current market value. You can get this by having your home appraised. Second, there’s the market climate. Are you selling in sellers or buyer’s markets? Third, there’s the neighborhood’s appreciation potential. Where will it be in the next five years or so? And we’re only getting started. Fortunately, here are four essential tips that can help you set the best listing price for your property. Contact The Page Morgan Team to learn more.