There are few things in this world that are totally life-changing. One of the biggest has to be buying or selling a home. Deciding to sell your home is not a choice you should take lightly.
People decide to sell their homes for several different reasons. You may have outgrown your current home and now need more space for your growing family. You may need to permanently relocate for a new job. No matter the reason, moving can be a very stressful and confusing time in a person’s life.
When you are considering selling your home there are some key things you want to think about.
1. The Value of Your Home
Though your home is probably priceless to you and your family, there is actually a way to estimate what your home would feasibly sell for. There are two main factors to consider when trying to gauge the value of your home. Those are size and condition.
The value of your home can also be affected by its location. For this reason, the best way to estimate your home’s value is to look at what similar houses in your area are selling for.
Looking at the sold prices of other homes in the area is the same way a real estate agent would suggest an asking price. You want to make sure your asking price is comparable to similar properties or you will have a hard time getting an offer in that range if you do decide to sell.
2. Should You Use a Real Estate Agent
As with any decision, choosing to use a real estate agent comes along with some pros and cons. Using an agent will make the whole process easier. They will be the ones to list and show the home. They will also be in charge of getting all the photos of the home taken.
When choosing a real estate agent make sure to vet many candidates. Check all of your potential agents’ reviews and make sure to ask family and friends for their recommendations.
3. How Much Will It Cost
When selling a home there are some costs involved in selling your home that will come out of the total you agree to sell your house for. Your real estate agent will get around five or six percent of the sales price. Closing cost, seller concessions, staging your home, and other miscellaneous costs will probably run around seven to nine percent. This is not yet including the price of any repairs you need or agree to make.
4. Should You Make Repairs
In today’s market, most home buyers are looking for a home that is move-in ready. If you want to get top dollar for your property you will need to make sure there are no expensive repairs that need to be made when you place it on the market.
Taking the time to make some cosmetic repairs, such as fresh paint can help your home to sell faster. It is actually a superstition that if you paint the front door red your home will sell faster.
If you choose, you can list your home for a lower amount and leave the repairs to be completed by the new owner. Just realize in most cases you will lose more of the value of your home than it would cost to make the repair before you list the house.
5. Do You Want to Sell
Deciding if you truly want to sell your home is the biggest thing to think about before deciding to.
Only you can answer that question. It could take a long time for your house to sell or it could happen before it is even officially listed. If you want to make sure your home sells quickly you can always seek out companies that buy houses. They will make you an offer and you will not have to worry about waiting.
In conclusion, these are the five key things to think about before starting the process of selling your house. If it is time for a new home take your time and do your research and before you know it you will have sold your current home and be in the new home of your dreams.
