There are many reasons why someone will want to sell their home. It could be that they need a larger property for their growing family, they want to relocate for a new job or new start, their financial situation has changed, or they don’t need as much space anymore. Yet, no matter the event that has prompted this change, a homeowner will have to go through the same process when putting their property on the market.
Even if you’ve sold a house before, there are some things you may have skipped or don’t know about – and there are specific tasks that are crucial for a successful transaction. Make sure you resolve any issues as soon as you can and follow an extensive to-do list; some of those tasks are listed below.
Decide when to sell
Every real estate market is different – yet generally, the best time to sell is in the spring: March, April, and May. While it is possible to sell a home during the winter months, in many cases, you will get the highest offers during the spring.
Yet you need to choose to sell at the most convenient time for your circumstances: spring might not be the best for you. You should evaluate the good and bad points of selling in each timeframe, and an excellent realtor will be able to give you that information.
Hire a great realtor
This can be an overlooked step in the selling process. You should have high expectations from the agent you choose, and the top ones will have different qualities and skills. Make sure you know how to interview a realtor, so you can ask the right questions and look for specific answers to have a good chance of hiring a top agent.
Get all the paperwork and documents you need
Your real estate agent should know what information is required to sell your home – such as details on any updates that have been made to the property. Some of the items you may need to include:
- Ages of furnace and air-con units, plus instruction manuals
- Dates of home improvement projects, e.g., window and carpet installations, remodeling of bathroom and kitchen, etc.
- Roof age and applicable warranty paperwork
- Compliance certificates
- Instrument survey
You may also wish to inform any other owners of the property of your intent to sell, e.g., a non-titled spouse. This is, so they know the sale is happening and aren’t unduly displaced from this.
Research your local market
It’s a good idea to research activity in your area and do your homework – even if you have lived in your property for a few years. This means that you can find out what properties are currently for sale, how long they’ve been available for, and what your competition is like with comparable homes. Look at their features, the lot size plus the number of bedrooms/bathrooms, and, to go the extra mile; you could even visit open houses.
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