Making the decision to sell your home is not easy. Once you’ve made up your mind, however, it’s time to get to work to ensure you get the best possible outcome.
Selling your home successfully takes more than just putting up a “For Sale” sign in your yard or listing it on the MLS. There are plenty of planning and preparations to do to sell your home quickly and at the best price.
The following tips will help ensure success in your home selling journey:
- Do your research
Every home selling process should start with researching about the area’s real estate market. With San Francisco being one of the fastest growing metros in the last twenty years, the real estate market here is constantly evolving and Bay Area home prices are always changing. Before putting your home up for sale, you should first familiarize yourself with the trends and factors that affect the market. This will give you a strong and accurate basis in pricing your home and in developing your marketing strategy.
- Look for the right real estate agent
Getting the help of a real estate agent early on is essential. An experienced Realtor will know how to make your home stand out in the market and what to do to appeal to the right buyers. As skilled negotiators, they can also help screen potential buyers and close the best possible sale for your property. Additionally, you can rely on them for assistance on the mountain of paperwork involved in
the process.In finding the right real estate agent, try to interview as many candidates as you can. Look into their experience and track record, and ask them how they plan to market and sell your home for the best price possible.
- Consider hiring a professional cleaner
Preparing your home for the sale starts with deep cleaning, and the best way to do this is by hiring a professional cleaner. A pro can do a much better job than you in getting your home spic-and-span from top to bottom. From vacuuming the carpets and removing grime in toilets to disinfecting doorknobs, professional cleaners can make your home look brand new.
- Do the necessary repairs
Make a thorough inspection of your home and identify all areas where repairs are needed. Hire a professional inspector if necessary. With the high prices of homes today, buyers are looking for no less than a move-in ready home with minimal repairs.
If you have the skills and know how, you can probably perform minor fixes yourself, but leave the more important ones to the pros. Some buyers might be suspicious of DIY repairs and consider them red flags. If you’re not up to the task, hire professionals to do the necessary repairs, especially in critical areas like the plumbing, electrical systems, roofing, and others.
- Price your home accurately
Overpricing is the main reason homes sit on the market longer than necessary. On the other hand, under pricing can lead to lost opportunities. Setting the correct price for your home can be difficult, but you can make the right call if you know the most important things to consider. Looking at the sale prices of similar homes in your area is a good place to start. Know what makes these homes more or less appealing than yours, then adjust your estimate accordingly.
It’s best to consult your Realtor, who will perform a Comparative Market Analysis to come up with the most appropriate listing price for your home.
- Stage your home
Home staging has been found in many studies to help sell a property faster and at a higher price. Staging a house for sale is an art. Hiring a professional home stager is preferable, but you can also do it yourself.
The purpose of home staging is to make it easier for buyers to see themselves living in your home. With this in mind, make sure the space is free from clutter. Depersonalize the home by removing your photos and memorabilia. Rearrange the furniture and improve the lighting to make rooms appear brighter and more spacious. Add the right accents, such as throw pillows, rugs, and neutral artworks, to make the space more appealing.
Work on your home’s curb appeal, as well. Mow the lawn, trim your hedges, and upgrade outside fixtures, if needed.
- Have your home photographed by a professional
Once home staging is done, hire a professional photographer to take high quality photos of your property. With more than 90% of home searches starting on the internet, excellent photos and videos go a long way in attracting buyers and selling your home fast.
With the Bay Area’s hot real estate market, now is a good time to sell your home. Get the help of experts to get top dollar for your property. Get in touch with Nina Hatvany and Team Hatvany by calling 415.710.6462 or by sending an email to nina(at)ninahatvany(dotted)com.