Ultimate Guide to Selling Your House

Deciding to sell your house is equal parts exciting and overwhelming. This is a major life change, and though most of us have some general knowledge of the process of selling a home, there are some key details we definitely do not want to miss. In addition, selling your home in a hot-ticket state like California requires its own set of skills. To ensure a flawless process, here is a step-by-step guide to selling a house.

The first major step is deciding on a game plan for selling your home. The more traditional route is partnering with an experienced Realtor or real estate agent to put your house on the market. This choice is tried and true for a reason. With the right real estate agent by your side, it takes the pressure off and provides comfort in knowing that each step is being addressed by a professional who is highly experienced in their field.

A real estate agent can offer guidance, help keep on top of lengthy paperwork, provide you with valuable resources, and be a fierce advocate on your behalf during negotiations. Having the right agent in your corner is always the recommended way to go, even for the most seasoned of sellers.

A core truth to abide by in both business and real estate is to know your worth. Determining the market value when selling your house requires some research. A good starting point is to consider central factors such as the square footage of the home, its centrality to a downtown area and other amenities, whether it is close to a top-rated school district, and the proximity to major transportation options, such as airports, trains, and bus stops. All of these factors impact the desirability and appeal of a community.

If you are selling your home, look at other listings in your area, and browse through the previous and current sales to determine how to best price your home. Your real estate agent will have the resources and market experience to accurately determine the value of the home and how best to proceed with the listing strategy.

Once the asking price is determined, you can proceed to the next step, which is prepping the home for sale by creating your listing. There are many steps to prepare a home for listing. Curb appeal holds weight when trying to garner interest in a home. With that in mind, enhancing the exterior of the property will be hugely helpful. Repainting the home and replacing the front door, garage door, and exterior light fixtures will create a fresh, clean look that’s sure to leave a positive first impression on your buyers. Landscaping is another detail to consider, such as adding shrubbery, a new pathway, and creating a manicured lawn.

Though the exterior of the property will draw in potential buyers, it is the interior that makes the final sale. Fix up the little unfinished details that need attention, like a stuck window, a leaky sink, or any broken appliances. Photographs are crucial in displaying the home at its best, so be sure to clean and stage the whole house in preparation for professional photographers to capture images for the listing.

Once again, a real estate agent can provide invaluable aid by connecting sellers to reliable photographers and staging services, as well as taking responsibility for officially putting the home on the market through a well-established real estate site, thus increasing your listing’s visibility.

Now that your house is officially on the market, it is available for viewing. Open houses are a valuable tool when selling your house, as they are a chance for potential buyers to explore the space and imagine what it would be like to live there. On the surface, hosting an open house is simple, yet there are small details that can go a long way in helping buyers feel more welcomed.

Aside from offering a clean, well-staged home that shows the property at its very best, your agent will follow helpful etiquette, such as being available to answer questions but not hovering and maybe setting up a “hospitality station” where attendees can enjoy some refreshments. Your agent will offer buyers specific market information and point out the amazing features of your property.

Receiving an offer on your home after the time and effort it took to prepare for the sale will be rewarding, but it is wise to consider the benefits and drawbacks of each offer. In a dream scenario, you would get the price you want upfront with little to no negotiation. However, it is beneficial to be prepared for all scenarios.

If multiple offers are on the table, ask about any contingencies or concessions they have from the beginning. Applicants with mortgage pre-approval letters are a good sign since they have the financial backing to reinforce their offers. Your agent will guide you in responding to each offer, whether you choose to reject, counter, or accept.

What are closing costs? For the seller, closing costs are a collection of taxes, fees, and service charges paid to finalize the transfer of ownership to the buyer. These fees can come in the form of commission, escrow fees, owners’ title insurance, property taxes, HOA fees, transfer taxes and recording fees, and seller’s attorney fees. Keep in mind not all of these costs may apply to you as the seller. The range of these closing costs often depends on the services used and regional rates, which allow the state, county, and city seat to set the price tag for how much you end up paying.

After what feels like a long, drawn-out process, the final closure of the sale is a rewarding step where both parties can look over the final documents, dot the i’s and cross the t’s, and make final steps for closure. Realtors will manage all final documents and solidify the exchange of funds to ensure that everything goes smoothly.

When it comes to selling your house, it helps to have a roadmap. Without a clear step-by-step guide, even the most experienced seller can get lost in the shuffle. Working with a trusted Realtor like Danya Summers at Boutique Real Estate is invaluable. Dedicated to excellence, an expert agent is an ideal ally. Get started today!

_{*Header photo courtesy of Boutique Real Estate}