6 Things First-Time Home Sellers Must Know

Selling your home requires a lot of work, and for first-time home sellers, it could be an intimidating experience. If you’re a first-time home seller who doesn’t know where to start, don’t worry. We’ve laid out six things you must know first and foremost that could help you achieve your goal of selling your home sooner than later. If you’re ready, let’s get straight into it!

1. You don’t have to do it all on your own.

If it’s your first time offloading a property and you don’t have any background or expertise in real estate, finding an agent could be the best route for you to hop on. A realtor can analyze the potential sale and prepare an estimated value for comparative market analysis, which could help you price your home accordingly and find potential buyers.

But of course, you shouldn’t just blindly select the first real estate agent recommended to you. Do your research to find the best agent for your divestment. Get referrals from friends and neighbors, interview more than one agent, and pay attention to how they plan to market your property. Data from The Close shows that more than 40% of active realtors in the United States are in California, Florida, Texas, and Arizona, so you’re in luck if you are around those areas.

If you are an expert in the real estate field, feel free to conduct a for-sale-by-owner transaction to cut costs on agent fees. Take note that the nuances of a real estate transaction can make an FSBO property less appealing to many home buyers and their agents. Having an experienced agent under your wing for your home sale will allow you to take care of other things before you eventually move out and sell your home.

2. Review your listing online.

Finding a good real estate agent doesn’t mean you don’t have to roll up your sleeves and work. It’s your responsibility to know how much your house is worth and the other details in between. You are responsible for checking your listing on various websites to ensure the information about the property is well conveyed as well. You can also make modifications, like adding more photos and including more details like distance from public transportation stops, to provide as many details as possible to potential homebuyers. If you spot a feature missing in your property, contact your agent for an inclusion.

3. Make necessary repairs if you can.

According to data from The Close, the average listing price for a home in the United States has grown more than 32% since March 2020 to $374,900 as of June 2021. And you can sell even more with appropriate repairs and upgrades.

Homebuyers tend to judge a book by its cover, so consider making necessary changes to add value to your home, whether it’s repainting your walls with a neutral color, adding new lighting fixtures, or anything else that could make your home look new. You can also replace broken door handles, windows, or anything that needs to be replaced in the kitchen or the bathroom. Show off that curb appeal by adding plants to highlight the property’s space. Some changes cost more than others, but they could possibly bring in more potential buyers.

If you don’t have the time or the money to make necessary repairs, there’s always an option to sell the house as it is to a home investor like Shorefront Investments.

4. Conduct an open house if possible.

Conducting an open house, whether virtually or in person, could help you attract more clients and feature the strongest suits of your property. Remember that less is more when it comes to staging an open house, so only add furniture that would highlight and complement the space and the integral parts of the house.

Before an open house, do a clean sweep of your home and remove personal items like family portraits and artwork. Remember that homebuyers don’t consider your emotional attachment to the property, so it’s better to keep it minimal as well.

5. Line up movers early.

This is one thing most first-time home sellers tend to forget in the home selling process. Aside from getting your home ready for sale, you also must get ready to move into your new home. May tends to be a busy month for movers, so if you coincidentally need to move out during that month, having an advanced U-haul booking is a lifesaver.

Start packing before your home hits the market, especially if you live in a popular neighborhood where homes sell fast. This is a good head start for the sale process and can give you peace of mind.

6. You can still sell your home fast even without repairs.

You don’t have to conduct repairs or do all the necessary work to sell a property. If you don’t want to hire a real estate agent or don’t have enough time for house tours, upgrades, and other marketing strategies, you can easily reach out to Shorefront Investments to save time and close a deal faster.

You just have to fill out a form to schedule a meeting and then we’ll go to your property for viewing. From there, we will give you a no-obligation offer, and we can close the deal in 7-14 days or less. We would also handle the paperwork on your behalf without you paying for additional fees or commissions, so you can keep more cash in your pocket and do proceed with what you want to do in life. If you have questions or are interested to learn more, please feel free to reach out to us by calling 850-713-4866 or sending an email to info@shorefront-investments.com.

Takeaway

Selling your home for the first time can be overwhelming but having an idea of what to do and what to avoid can help you go through the process with ease. Being hands-on in the sale process can also make it an enjoyable one. Good luck!