Tuesday, July 31, 2018 / by Sheri Roundy
The Everything Guide to Selling Your First Home
How to figure out exactly what you want, and how to work with the experts who’ll help you get it.
You love and cherish your home. You want the next owner to fall in love with it, too — through photos, through words, and through the experience of walking through your front door. But, perhaps most, you want to get the price you want.
This isn’t a small task. Selling a home requires work. It requires time. The journey isn’t always easy. There will be frustrations. But when you seal the deal and move on to your next chapter — wow, what a blissful, boss feeling.
Below, we preview and link to each step in your journey. We’ll discuss how to know what you want (and what your partner wants, if you’re selling together). How to understand the market, and ways to make a plan. And most importantly? How to create relationships with experts and trust them to help you get the job done.
Now, let’s talk about selling your house.
Know, Exactly, What You Want
First things first: You need to know what you want (and what your partner wants) in order to sell your home with minimum frustration. Why are you moving? What do you expect from the process? When, exactly, should you put that For Sale sign in the yard? I can help you get your thoughts in order with my home listing presentation.
Do Your Research
Unless you bought your home last week, the housing market changed since you became a homeowner. Mortgage rates fluctuate, inventory shifts over time — these are just a few of the factors that affect the state of the market, and every market is unique. Educate yourself on what to expect. Feel free to contact me for a market report.
Interview and Select an Agent
This is the most important relationship you’ll form on your home selling journey. Pick the right agent and you’ll likely get a better sales price for your house. This is important because you'll want to find and select the expert who’s right for you, and by reading my blog you're already off to a great start.
Price Your Home
How much is your home worth? That’s the … $300,000 question. Whatever the number, you need to know it. This is how I will help you pinpoint the price.
Prep Your Home for Sale
Today, home buyers have unfettered access to property listings online, so you have to make a great first impression — on the internet and IRL (in real life). That means you’ll have to declutter all the stuff you’ve accumulated over the years, make any necessary repairs, and get your home in swoon-worthy condition.
Market Your Home
Home buyers look at countless listings online. The best-marketed homes have beautiful photos and compelling property descriptions, so they can get likes — which can amount to buyer interest — on social media. Some agents are even using videos, virtual tours, texts, and audio messages. I'll be happy to spend some time with you and show you how I will be promoting your property.
Showcase Your Home
One of the best ways to get buyers in the door is to have an open house. This is your chance to show off your home’s best assets, and help buyers envision themselves living there. Please know that I will organize, advertise, and host the event to ensure it’s a success.
Receive Offers
Yes, you might get offers (plural), depending on the market. Assuming you’ve collaborated with me, you’ve likely positioned yourself to receive attractive bids. I will review each offer with you to determine which is best for you.
Negotiate With the Buyer
To get the best deal for you, you’ll likely have to do some negotiating. I will help you craft a strategic counteroffer to the buyer’s offer, factoring in not only money, but contingencies, etc. Let’s talk about how to ask for what you want.
Negotiate Home Inspection Repairs
Ah, the home inspection. It’s as much a source of anxiety for buyers as it is for sellers. Nonetheless, most purchase agreements are contingent on a home inspection (plus an appraisal, which will be managed by the buyer’s lender). This gives the buyer the ability to inspect the home from top to bottom and request repairs — some even could be required per building codes. The upshot: You have some room to negotiate, including about certain repairs. Once again, I will be there to help you effectively communicate with the buyer.
Close the Sale
Settlement, or closing, is the last step in the home selling process. This is where you sign the final paperwork, make this whole thing official, and collect your proceeds. Before that can happen though, you’ll have to prepare your home for the buyer’s final walk-through and troubleshoot any last-minute issues. I’ve got you covered with my closing checklist.