It can be difficult to sell your own house, but you can do it with a little planning.Learn how to increase your chances of selling your home.
Step 1: Take the time to clean out your home.
When you decide to sell your house, make sure to thoroughly clean it.Don't forget the areas that are rarely cleaned, such as baseboards, blinds, roof gutter and window wells.A clean home will help an appraiser see your house in a better light and value it more highly, as well as appealing to buyers.Some aspects of cleaning that are not scrutinized by potential buyers will be overlooked.If you want to make a good first impression, you should pay for a professional cleaning service.The power of a clean canvas is not underestimated.While you clean, clear up the mess.Hire storage space if you have to, to make your home look more spacious.You will see a big difference in how your closets look, as well as your garage, porch and bathroom.It helps buyers see themselves in your home if you clear out more of your stuff.If you can't part with items, consider moving them to a storage unit.
Step 2: Have your property looked at.
You have to be realistic when setting the price of your home.Many for-sale-by-owner listings fail to sell because owners persist in thinking their home is worth more than the market will offer, or because they have already settled on a set amount of money that they want and refuse to budge.Having a professional, third-party assessment of your home's worth will help you get comfortable with a price range, in addition to giving you a reference point if a buyer accuses you of setting the price too high.Don't rely on the assessment alone.Many property tax assessments don't reflect the current real estate market.Look at other people's work.Comparables are what other similar homes in your area are selling for, or better yet how much they have sold for in the last month.This method can be used to determine the price range of your home.When arriving at a realistic assessment of your home's value, always use comparables.You may want to look back about six months to a year to see how other homes sell in a slower market.Hire an inspector.A certified residential appraiser will come to your house, measure the property, take notes and photos, research information about any land parcels, and assemble a list of comparable sales in your neighborhood to determine the value of your home.Ask your local branch manager to refer you to an honest, qualified professional if your bank keeps a list ofReputable Archeologists.When you receive your appraisal, make a second copy and store it in a secure location.You should keep the first copy for serious buyers.A visit from a real estate agent may be free, but they may arrive at a similar amount, so keep that in mind.
Step 3: Have your home looked at.
The home buyer will have the right to inspect the property in many standard real estate contracts.Before you advertise, have your home inspected.Major repairs to appliances, plumbing, electrical and heating systems might be required under a general inspection.You can expect your home to be inspected as well.Make necessary repairs after following the recommendations.The buyer may request additional inspections at their expense.
Step 4: If you can, get your home in move-in condition before you put it on the market.
People who buy homes are inherently lazy.Even if the rest of your house is an absolute steal, if they feel like they'll need to do extra landscaping, plumbing, appliance and electrical work before they can enjoy the house, they won't buy it.Make it easy for them.To get the home ready to move into, hire a handyman or general contractor.
Step 5: Know the selling points you use.
Writing a list of special selling points will help you market your home.Potential items include good school districts, recent renovations, benefits that have been grandfathered into the property, energy-saving windows or insulation, and new appliances.You can highlight these items in your ads when you talk to people about your home.Remember them so that you don't forget anything.
Step 6: Time it correctly.
People prefer to move when it's warm, and they're reluctant to have their children change schools in the middle of the school year, so be aware that the real estate sector sees a noticeable increase in business over the summer.Continue to promote your home throughout the summer if you want to sell it in April or May.When the weather warms up again, begin marketing more intensely if you haven't sold it by late fall.The trend your neighborhood is going through is another thing to be aware of.Strong residential sales in your neighborhood will increase the value of your home.If your neighborhood has seen a lot of foreclosures, your home's value will go down.If you're not affected by distressed sales, try to time your listing.In robust markets, a comparable sale can only weigh against the value of your home for 90 days after the sale date.If you can do it at a higher price, it might be worth it to wait a few months.You may have to go back as much as a year in slower markets.
Step 7: Get your property ready for staging.
A staging is an important part of selling a house.Potential buyers begin to imagine their own lives in your home during the staging.You've lost their business if they can't make the imaginative leap because the house is too cluttered, dirty, colorful, or quirky.The best way to stage the house is to be bland.It is typical as possible.Limit the furniture in your house to essentials.Sell it, or throw it away if you haven't used it in three months.This makes the rooms appear larger.Hire a replacement for items that don't complement your home.When possible, show items in groups of 1, 3, and 5.It's not clear why some items are mentally appealing.There are fresh flowers and fruit in the rooms.There are scatter cushions and glass vases in the room.If you need to paint a room, go into it.It's a good idea to paint the walls white.If you want potential buyers to be able to modify the property to their liking, neutral is the way to go.Clean the carpets and windows in each room.Don't forget the bathroom and kitchen.Put an orchid in the bathroom and use fluffy white towels.A bowl of fruit and 1-2 appliances/pans are more than enough for the kitchen to look simple but not crowded.Personal photos and items make buyers uncomfortable.The style of your house should appeal to your potential buyers.If you're selling a bachelor pad or a family home, you will use different property styling.If your house is decorated in a specific style, it might not match the style of potential buyers.You should pay attention to how the outside of your home looks.Weed and mulch plants that obscure important parts of the home.The paint on the outside of the home needs to be inspected to make sure it looks good from both the curb and up- close.Place potted plants at the entry or on the balcony.You should be in the shoes of the buyer.Professional photos show the best of each room.Even if the photographer wouldn't approve, you can take a picture of the room on a sunny day.If there is enough light, turn on all artificial light in other rooms.
Step 8: Put your home up for sale.
If you live in a high-traffic neighborhood, taking a "For Sale By Owner" sign in your yard is a good idea.You can advertise online.You can put an ad for your home on a website.Take out classified ads in your local newspaper and ask if they can be found on a website as well.Mention when you're selling your house on social media sites.Put up fliers.fliers can be placed on stoplight poles if local laws permit it.Don't sell to potential buyers.Call the local bank managers and let them know that you have a great home for sale if they know a family who's looking.If you know that a nearby company often relocates workers to your area, you should tell them you have a home you're ready to sell.Do everything you can to get the word out.Don't depend on word of mouth.Inform your friends, family and business associates that you're selling your house.If you need to sell quickly, give them a carrot and say that if they can find someone who's looking for a house and that buyer makes an offer, you'll buy them an expensive bottle of wine, a nice dinner out, or some other reward.
Step 9: Know how to present your home.
Try to be available and flexible when potential buyers contact you to see the home.Many people want to see the home in the middle of the day, when you might be working.If you can't be home for appointments, try to arrange for a close friend or family member to be there.Set a pleasant mood.Before your potential buyers arrive, clean up any mess.Throw dishes into the dishwasher, and put away food on the counter.If you have a scented candle, brew fresh coffee, put a few drops of vanilla on a cookie sheet, and put it in the oven at around 250 F (121C).Classical music is played in the background.If the weather is nice, open a few windows; if not, light a fireplace.The lights should be turned on for mood lighting.The extra steps will make your home calm and inviting.You should be a good host.It might seem obvious, but some people are so anxious about selling their home that they forget basic manners.When your potential buyers arrive, greet them with a firm handshake and look them in the eye.Ask and remember their names.When they enter your home, ask if you can give them a glass of water or refreshment.Do they have kids?Do they like animals?Discuss the house in those terms.Don't rush them from room to room.Ask if they have any questions at the end of the tour.Send your contact information to them on a small note or card.If you come off as prepared and polite, you will be seen as someone who can enter a real estate transaction with minimal hassle.Keep it positive.Don't offer apologies like "Sorry it's so messy in here!", but be honest.If you're selling your house because of a divorce, lost job or other personal tragedy, don't talk about it with your buyers, even if it's in jest.Make your interaction with them positive.You want them to leave your home happy and excited.Put your valuables in a safe.Before you let strangers into your home, make sure everything is locked up in a safe location.If your buyers are alone, try to give them some privacy in the yard or the kitchen.
Step 10: If no serious bids have come through, give yourself a time to lower the asking price.
Many sellers price their homes too high.They pay for maintenance, upgrades, and property taxes when they keep them too high.If I don't get a bid within two months, I'll lower the price by $25k.Having an outline of how you'll lower the price in the absence of bids will help take emotion out of the decision and help you sell your house more quickly.
Step 11: Put yourself in the buyer's shoes.
If you don't get any bids, take a walk around the neighborhood.Do you want to buy a home if the price is too high?Remember to be honest with yourself.It's time to lower your asking price in order to make your home more appealing if you come to the conclusion that other homes around the neighborhood might be better options.
Step 12: Offer a reward.
There is a way to make the pot a bit sweeter.Don't underestimate the power of a small gesture.If you offer a credit on the closing costs, you can make the deal more attractive.This is a great incentive because closing costs can get expensive quickly.There is a home warranty that can be given to cover home appliance malfunction.If anything goes wrong, the potential buyer won't have to pay more for it.Offer fast closing on the home.People who see their dream house want to live in it immediately.The buyer should be able to take possession of the property on the day it closes.
Step 13: Take care of financing.
The buyer knows the stages of buying a home and most sellers assume that.This is one of the many valuable services that a real estate agent would normally provide, but now it is left to you, the seller, to walk them through choosing a mortgage broker to get to the closing table.By aligning yourself with a local mortgage company first, you are giving the loan officer leads in return for assisting you with the transaction, a virtual win-win.This is a great way to find a qualified buyer for clients that are approved but have not found a home.The broker should give you strategic financing tips for marketing and estimate the closing costs for your home.It's as easy to sell a home with financing as it is with good staging.A flyer may be prepared by the lender that shows the monthly payments based on the purchase price.At your open house, a lender may hold a meet and greet session.Potential buyers will be educated about the lending opportunities available to them during this session.
Step 14: Be prepared for a negotiation.
If a buyer says he or she likes your home but isn't sure about buying it, this is your chance to increase the price.Did you see the buyer looking at your barbecue?Throw it in.Is it possible that they were dismayed that the patio hadn't been painted in a while?To cover the cost of re-varnishing, you'll have to come down $500.If you give up an appliance or make a small concession for home improvements, you can save money on your mortgage.You can negotiate upwards even if someone makes a low-ball offer.If you get an offer that is lower than you are willing to accept, don't be discouraged.
Step 15: To close quickly, try to do it cleanly.
As soon as the buyer makes offers and negotiates, try to close the transaction as quickly as possible.All the necessary disclosure documents are required by your state.Don't just say no to the buyer's offer.Make a counter offer.If you can afford it, try to accommodate the buyer.Take the offer to a lawyer for a professional evaluation.Move out as quickly as you can once everything is settled.