Sell your home: a step-by-step guide

Home sellers often dream of a hassle-free, quick sale where they list their home, find a buyer quickly, collect the money and then hand over the keys. It would be so easy if it was! Selling a Home is not as simple as it seems.

Geographical factors can influence the length of time your home stays on the market, or even how much you charge for it. You're more likely to sell your house faster and for a higher price in areas where the competition is fierce and the inventory is low. In contrast, in areas where sales of homes have cooled you may have to work harder to find the right buyer.

Since the pandemic, the real estate market has changed. The frantic bidding wars have (mostly), ended, but prices and rates are still high. With home inspection at least two to three months prior to listing your property. It is not mandatory, but it can be helpful to identify problem areas. Allow enough time for scheduling repairs.

Start deep cleaning your home about a month prior to listing it. This will prepare you for the listing photos. To show off your home, keep clutter to a bare minimum and consider storing excess items in a storage facility.

Choose an agent that knows the market

You can easily research a agent to find out more about their professional background. This will help you to choose the best person to work for. You can check out the online profiles of agents to see how long they have been in business, how many transactions they have closed and any designations that they may hold. You should also pay attention to the way they advertise their listings and how professionally their photos are presented.

What to upgrade and what to avoid

Be sure that the upgrades you are considering will result in a high ROI before you invest money. Installing new granite counters, for instance, is not worth it if they will only make you break even or worse, cost you money. These improvements might not even be needed to get top dollar for your home, especially if the inventory level is low in your locality. A real estate agent who knows what the people in your neighborhood expect can help you determine what improvements are necessary and which ones are not.

Updates to kitchens and bathrooms are the most cost-effective. Even inexpensive DIY projects will make a big difference: A new coat of neutral-colored paint or a spruced up landscaping can be a low-cost way to make an excellent first impression.

Set a realistic price

Even in competitive markets, buyers don't want to pay more than they have to, so it's crucial to get the pricing right. Going too high can backfire, while underestimating a home's value might leave money on the table. To price your home perfectly from the start, consult comps. This information about recently sold properties in your neighborhood gives you an idea of what comparable homes around you are selling for, thus helping you decide how much you might reasonably ask. 

In addition, homes with multiple price reductions may give buyers the impression there's something wrong with a home. So it's best to eliminate the need for multiple reductions by pricing your home to attract the widest pool of buyers from the start. To know more information check casasenventamonterrey.com

List your house with professional photos

This step will likely involve your real estate agent registering the listing with the local MLS (multiple listing service). Here are some tips to get your home market-ready:

• Get professional photos: Work with your real estate agent to schedule a photographer to capture marketing photos of your home. With the ubiquity of online house-hunting these days, high-quality photos are critical. A pro photographer knows how to make rooms appear bigger, brighter and more attractive. The same goes for your lawn and outdoor areas.
• Focus on online appeal: You've probably heard of curb appeal, but professionals say online appeal is now even more important. In fact, nearly all homebuyers look at online listings -- 96 percent, according to NAR. "Your home's first showing is online," Guerra says. "The quality of your web presentation will determine whether someone calls and makes an appointment or clicks on the next listing."
• Stage it and keep it clean: Staging a home entails removing excess furniture, personal belongings and unsightly items from the home while it's on the market, and arranging rooms for optimal flow and purpose. If you're in a slower market or selling a luxury home, investing in a professional stager could help you stand out. Nationally, professional home staging costs an average of around $1,770, according to Home Advisor, but prices range between about $778 and $2,839.
• Clear out for showings: Make yourself scarce when potential buyers come to view your home. Let them imagine themselves in the space, free from the distraction of meeting and talking to you. "Seeing the current homeowner lurking can cause buyers to be hesitant to express their opinions," says Lopez. "It could keep them from really considering your home as an option." Generally, buyers are accompanied by their real estate agent to view your home. You can also ask your own agent to be present at showings.

Review and negotiate offers

Once buyers have seen your home, the offers will ideally start rolling in. This is where a real estate agent is your best advocate and go-to source for advice. If your local market favors sellers, buyers will likely offer very close to asking price, or possibly even above. On the other hand, if sales are slow in your area, you may have to be open to negotiating.

When you receive an offer, you have a few choices: accept it as-is, make a counter-offer or reject the offer. A counter-offer is a response to an offer in which you negotiate on terms and/or price. Counter-offers should always be made in writing and provide a short timeframe (ideally 48 hours or less) for the buyer to respond. You can offer a credit for paint and carpet, but insist on keeping your original asking price in place, for example. Or, you might offer to leave certain items behind to sweeten the deal.