If you’re selling a home for the first time, you likely have many questions running through your head…How much should we ask? What do we ned to do to prepare the home for sale? How do we know which offer to choose?
These are all great questions, so let’s dive right in.
1. How Much Should We Ask For Our Home?
Many factors will play into this decision. Your real estate agent can discuss with you some major parameters they use to price a home. Those factors include:
- Comparable sales in the area
- Current market condition
- Location of the home
- Age of the home and any recent upgrades
- Size and usable space
- Condition of the home
- Current interest rates
It can be tricky to price your home on your own. There are so many factors that must be taken into consideration, which is why it’s smart to hire an experienced real estate agent to figure this out for you. If you price it on your own, you increase the chances of over- or under-pricing the property, which can have detrimental effects later on.
2. How Do We Prepare the Home For Sale?
Many home sellers ask their real estate agents what they have to do to prepare the home before it hits the market. They may hire a staging company to go through the home and minimize clutter, remove extraneous furniture and add attractive décor that will appeal to potential buyers. They will also hire a professional photographer to take photos of your house to appear on the MLS listing and online.
There are a few things you can do on your own as well:
- Landscape and trim the yard
- Add flowers and plants for a boost in curb appeal
- Make small repairs as necessary, touch up paint, etc.
- De-clutter each room
- Remove personal items such as photos and anything of value
- Add seasonal décor to the interior and exterior
- Tidy the home and clean up, especially before showings and open houses
3. How Do We Judge Offers?
Lastly, many first-time sellers wonder how they will narrow down the offers they get and choose the best one. Again, this is where your real estate agent comes in. They can facilitate the offer submittal process from other buyers and agents, give a deadline, collect them all, sit down with you to review them, and offer their professional opinion.
Usually the highest and best offer will win out, but there could be other factors that come into play such as mortgage vs. all-cash offers, or conventional loan vs. VA loan. Your Realtor will be able to present you with the best offers and advise you on which one to choose that’s in your best interests.
Contact Berkshire Hathaway Premier Properties Before Selling Your Home
Having a real estate agent behind you when pricing a home, making it ready for sale and choosing offers is important. We are here for you every step of the way, so contact Berkshire Hathaway Premier Properties at 713-862-0000 whether you’re a first-time seller or a well-seasoned one.