Home Selling Secrets

 

The home selling process is much like the purchasing process in that there are numerous moving parts and numerous steps involved; however, if you remember carefully when you bought your first house, you may even reverse-engineered the entire process to plan what it might look like to the new seller. It's the little things that can make or break a home selling experience for you. By making sure you know about these little touches ahead of time, you can help ensure that nothing will give you second thoughts when the time to sell rolls around. Here are a few tips:

If you know any of the previous owners had significant maintenance issues, by all means mention those matters when putting together your home selling package. If you're planning on doing any serious repairs, however, it's probably best to hire a licensed home inspector and contractor to check and finalize any potential problems before you ever pull out the door. In addition to saving yourself headaches down the road, hiring an inspector will also save you money as most real estate agents charge a percentage of the repairs.

The same goes for minor repairs that can wait until after you close. For instance, if your garage door has a loose panel and you're planning on replacing it with a brand new, high-end model, leave it alone until the closing documents are signed. Then, get it replaced with a more reliable model that you've researched and know works with your present door. Your real estate agent will be able to guide you to a reputable dealer. Even though you didn't have to bring up the issue, asking your real estate agent whether or not it's a good idea to wait to make any repairs is a good way to gauge their advice.

First impressions count, especially for first time home buyers. If you've already had a few offers, don't put off finalizing your deal. A potential buyer is likely making a first impression based on photos, floor plans, photos from other homes, and maybe even references. Let your real estate agent know about any minor issues that you know are going to come up before you finalize the deal.

Another mistake homeowners make is leaving their home open to multiple offers when selling. If you are using an agent, this is immaterial. Your agent can walk you through a process where you can go in and set an offer with a predetermined price that will be accepted if multiple offers are received. If you do not have an agent, do not allow the buyer to come in and present multiple offers during the sale.

Sometimes it's not possible to complete the transaction while you're in the process of selling. For example, if the seller wants to make sure the closing is completed before they allow the buyer to move in, they must wait until the title company has issued the final title. Homeowners should be prepared for this possibility and make sure they understand that this is why they cannot close on their home immediately. Once the title company issues the final title, make sure you transfer the deed to your buyer as soon as you sell the house.

And finally, this is another one of the top dollar selling secrets homeowners often forget: advertise. In fact, many people mistakenly think that listing their home on the Multiple Listing Service is really unnecessary. However, what most buyers don't realize is that listing on MLS is actually a great way to increase your exposure to buyers. When you list on Mls, your home is advertised to hundreds of prospective buyers, and you can tailor your price and listing format to reach the perfect buyers for your property.

There are three big mistakes homeowners make when selling: allowing the listing agent to control the escrow process, accepting a bad closing document, or waiting to receive financing before listing. Each of these is a serious mistake, which can ultimately lead to buyer remorse. If you need help with escrow, be sure to contact an escrow service to work with you. In addition, if your closing documents are not acceptable, do not accept them. It is easy to fix these problems, and the agents often have experience handling these situations.