Selling a house can be daunting, but with the right planning and preparation, you can sell it fast and for more in no time. In this blog post, we’ll take you through the process of selling a home from start to finish. Our guide covers everything you need to know about preparing your house for sale, pricing it right, and navigating negotiations.
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PREPARING YOUR HOUSE FOR SALE
Getting your home ready for sale can make all the difference in selling your house fast in the Boston area.. A home that’s well-prepared creates a good first impression and attracts more buyers.
Here’s how to prepare your home for sale:
Declutter and organize
It’s no secret that decluttering makes it easier to sell your home. It makes your home look larger and more spacious and it helps potential buyers imagine themselves living there. Decluttering can make your home appear bigger and even increase the value of your property.
If you’re unsure of where to start decluttering, focus on the key rooms. These rooms, like the living room, kitchen, and bathrooms, are the ones that buyers notice first. They are the areas that are used the most, which also tends to accumulate the most clutter. As you sort through your items, decide on what to keep, donate, sell, or throw away. It helps to have labeled boxes for easier organization. Once you’re done, display the items you’ve chosen to keep by using baskets, bins, and the like.
Think about having your home professionally cleaned from top to bottom. Clean everything: windows (inside and out), mirrors, toilets, carpets, floors etc…pretty much everything!
Don’t forget to dust furniture, moldings and trims.
Pro tip: Since decluttering can be a daunting task, given all the items that you have to look through, set a timer to focus on one area or category at a time. After the timer goes off, take a quick break by doing something you enjoy.
Make the necessary repairs
Most buyers look for a move-in ready home, which doesn’t require much work or maintenance on their part. Aside from attracting more buyers, making the necessary repairs avoids potential issues during the inspection or closing process.
We suggest you service your mechanicals! This will help limit concerns that may come up in a home inspection that a buyer may try to negotiate. Sooo, have your heating and air conditioning serviced which includes cleaning and changing the filters. Make sure all light bulbs are operational. Finish any unfinished projects. Consider changing out old door knobs or old plumbing fixtures (toilets or faucets as needed) or an old door bell. Check and make sure toilets or sinks are draining properly. These are the repairs that can help ensure the safety, comfort, and functionality of your home. We want to make a good first impression. If your home looks well kept and taken care of, this sends a comforting message to the buyer regarding the overall condition of your home. When it comes to selling your home, you don’t have to fix all the issues that you see. It’s best to prioritize the repairs that are important for the safety and functionality of your home.
Lastly, Don’t Forget the Landscaping! Rake leaves, plant flowers, weed, mulch, trim overgrown trees and mow the lawn… first impressions are a big deal!!
Have a home staging strategy
Staging your home is essential to selling it quickly and for more. When a home is staged, its best features and assets are displayed. Buyers can visualize themselves living in your home and feel more attached to it.
There are three ways to stage your home: By yourself, with the help of your real estate agent, or by enlisting a professional home stager. With a home staging strategy, you can better prepare your home
One element of your home staging strategy is deciding on which rooms to stage. Since you don’t need to stage every room in the house, focus on the important ones like the living room, dining room, kitchen, and primary bedroom. With the cleaning and decluttering over with, you can now focus on making your home look more visually appealing. Painting the walls with neutral colors like white, beige, or light gray shades, for example, provides a blank canvas and appeals to a wider range of buyers.
Curb appeal is also part of home staging. It creates a positive first impression from the outside and invites buyers to look inside your home. There are plenty of ways to improve your home’s curb appeal. One is to make your front door stand out by painting it. Choose a bright or contrasting color that complements your home’s exterior. You can even go an extra step by adding hardware and accessories like a house number or a new handle.
Know what buyers are looking for in a home
Understanding what your target market is looking for gives you an idea of how you can prepare your home. A common feature that buyers want in a home is storage. Kitchen cabinets, walk-in pantries, and garages are storage features that can add value and appeal to your home. Buyers also want a home that enhances efficiency. Smart lighting, smart appliances, and smart locks are some of the features that make a home more convenient and secure. Add some affordable tech with a Ring Door Bell and Nest Thermostat. Both are bluetooth and internet accessible and have become extremely popular..
PRICING AND MARKETING STRATEGIES
Selling a home is a major financial decision. While it’s understandable why you’d want to get the most out of your home sale, it’s better to price it according to the dictates of the market. The right price attracts more buyers and increases your chances of selling your house fast in the Somerville area..
There are three ways to determine your home’s value:
- Determine your home’s value through comparative market analysis
The best method to know your home’s worth is through a comparative market analysis. By comparing it to similar properties that have been recently sold in your neighborhood, you have an idea of how much buyers are willing to pay for a home like yours. A comparative market analysis, which is usually done by a real estate agent, involves looking at the age, size, condition, and number of bedrooms and bathrooms to estimate the value of your Somerville, MA property. For this, Bremis/SBRG recommends looking at a minimum of at least 3 properties that were sold within the last 6 months. At Bremis/ SBRG we look to compare your homes to the most similar homes possible! Therefore, we look for homes recently sold with similar living area square footage, similar land area (lot size), similar bedroom count, similar bath count, and similar parking accommodations (garage or number of parking spaces). These are just some of the considerations that will go into the accurate pricing of your home.
- Determine your home’s value through a home appraisal
Another effective strategy on pricing your home right is by having it appraised. A home appraisal is an objective assessment done by a professional to set a realistic and competitive price. Like a comparative market analysis, home appraisals also take the size, condition, and amenities of your home, along with the current market trends. Since a licensed appraiser is enlisted to make a thorough evaluation, a home appraisal is the most detailed method for knowing your home’s fair market value. We have seen inaccuracies even with appraisers. Make sure your appraiser is familiar with your market and not from outside the area.
- Determine your home’s value by using online home valuation tools
Online home valuation tools can also provide a quick and easy estimate of your property’s worth. Real estate portals and real estate agents’ websites usually have a home valuation tool feature that makes use of online data and algorithms. While they are typically the most inaccurate, online home valuation tools can be used as a starting point for pricing your home. Keep in mind these valuation tools have never been in your home, don’t know the condition and have no idea about recent upgrades you may have done to improve your property….as an example!
NAVIGATING THE SELLING PROCESS
From preparing your home for sale to negotiating with buyers, there’s a lot of steps and decisions involved when it comes to selling your Somerville, MA home. That’s why it’s better to have a trustworthy real estate agent by your side.
Why you need a real estate agent to sell your home
- A real estate agent will get top dollar for your home
One of the biggest advantages of working with a real estate agent is being able to get top dollar for your property. They know how to maximize the sale of your home and attract more buyers by pricing it right. Aside from their experience and knowledge of the local market, they also know how to conduct a comparative market analysis to determine your home’s market value.
- A real estate agent will give you a better understanding of the selling process When you have a real estate agent by your side, you have someone guiding you throughout the entire process. Since a real estate agent has first-hand experience with selling homes, they can provide you with useful insights that you can’t get anywhere else. And no one knows the area better than a local real estate agent. With their knowledge, you can also understand the current market conditions, the prices of comparable properties, and what buyers are looking for nowadays.
- A real estate agent will use their network to your advantage
Real estate agents have a large network of connections that they can tap into, from title companies to home stagers. These contacts can help you throughout different stages of the home selling process and solve any problems or issues that may come up. A real estate agent also has access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), the most comprehensive database of properties with detailed information about the different homes for sale. The MLS is not available to the general public and can only be used by real estate agents and brokers.
- A real estate agent will save you time and money
To save on real estate agent commission fees, home sellers will choose to list the home on their own. However, going the for sale by owner (FSBO) route has its disadvantages. For one, it takes a lot of time and effort to sell a home. With a real estate agent by your side, you have someone taking care of all the nitty-gritty aspects of the home selling process. Their knowledge and expertise is crucial in marketing your listing, hosting open houses, and handling the paperwork and contracts. This method has a stronger likelihood of backfiring because of the lack of comparable resources and overall reach to market your property. Typically in these situations, buyer’s know you’re not paying a commission and try to negotiate that off the price. Statistically For Sale By Owners take longer to sell and net 3% less than agent sold homes. Real Estate Agents list 95% of available homes and buyers know an agent is hired to get top dollar for their Seller…the result for direct sellers is leftover bargain hunters.
How to prepare for an open house
Open houses and showings are important opportunities to present your home to potential buyers. However, they can also be stressful and time-consuming if you are not prepared. Here’s what you can do before opening your doors to buyers:
Prepare for an open house by cleaning and getting rid of clutter
A clean home always makes a good first impression. And deep cleaning your home from top to bottom ensures that every area is in good shape. Start by clearing the tables, counters, and other surfaces. When deep cleaning, look out for cobwebs, dead bugs, and dusty corners as well. Don’t forget to focus on the rooms that buyers look at the most, which are the kitchen, living room, bedroom, and bathrooms.
Prepare for an open house by making your home smell great
A home that smells good can increase your chances of selling faster and for more. Certain scents like citrus, vanilla, and pine appeal to many homebuyers for its warm and welcoming aroma. If you want to take it a step further, serving warm cookies or freshly baked bread is a well-known way to appeal to potential buyers. You can also open the doors and the windows to let some fresh air in.
Prepare for an open house by making your home look brighter
Aside from buyers being able to see the features of your home well, a bright home also makes the area feel more spacious and inviting. Let more natural light in by opening all the curtains and switching on every light. Strategically placed mirrors also make the room look bigger since they reflect light.
NEGOTIATION AND CLOSING
Handling offers and negotiations can be intimidating, especially if you’re not familiar with what it entails. And it’s normal to feel anxious about making the right decision when it comes to this part of the home selling process. With these tried-and-tested tips, you can take on the negotiation and closing process confidently and effectively.
- Set a deadline
If the buyer makes an offer that you aren’t satisfied with, you can counter the offer and place a deadline for when the buyer should respond. An expiration date creates a sense of urgency for the buyer, which can motivate them to accept your counteroffer or make a better one. Having a time limit also ensures that you don’t miss out on other potential buyers.
- Be willing to compromise
A part of the negotiation process for selling a home is being flexible. To get the best possible price for your home or to make the process move quickly, you may need to compromise on terms like the move in and move out dates, offering to pay for the closing costs, and agreeing to fix or replace certain items or features in the home.
- Don’t hesitate to turn down an offer
The old expression is’ your first offer is your best offer’. When the market was ‘hot’ this definitely was not the case! In a struggling market with high interest rates you no longer have the leverage you may have had a couple of years ago. If it’s been weeks without an offer, consider bids that come in very seriously and think twice before you walk away. In a hot market, if a buyer’s offer doesn’t meet your expectation or goal, don’t be afraid to reject it. When you’ve gone through all the possible options and still can’t reach a compromise with the buyer, it may be better to walk away… This is where your Bremis/ SBRG agents skill level can be priceless! Many factors come into play… How long has your home been on the market? How many showings have you had this week? How many second showings have you had? What are the market conditions that may affect the market now and possibly in the near future? How many home are you competing with currently on the market?
- Be patient
Selling a home can be a long and tiring process. In this market, it can take a lot of time, especially since it is dependent on the price, location, and current market conditions. By being patient, you avoid making hasty or emotional decisions that could lead to seller’s remorse. Whether you’re about to start your home selling journey or are already in the middle of it, expect that things may not go your way or take longer than they say. Hang in there, just keep your goals in mind and you’ll find the best deal for your home. As a 63 year real estate legacy, put our expertise to the test!
SELL YOUR HOME WITH THE STEVE BREMIS REALTY GROUP
The best way to go about the home selling process is to consult with a real estate expert. If you are searching for a real estate team to help sell your house fast in Somerville, Massachusetts, look no further than the Award Winning Steve Bremis Realty Group. With a 63-year family legacy in the real estate industry, we offer a wide range of services such as marketing campaigns, home staging, and condo conversion consultations.
Don’t miss this opportunity to work with the top real estate team in Somerville, Massachusetts.
Get in touch with us at the Steve Bremis Realty Group by calling 617.828.1070. You can also send us a message here.