Home Selling Timeline
Selling your home shouldn't be done in a hurry, even under the best circumstances. You need to plan and prepare. If you are like most homeowners, it can be challenging to know where to begin. These are the steps to follow:
Decide Now
Choosing Your Date
Even if you don't need to travel across the country to find a job, it is essential to decide when you want your home to be sold. There are many opinions about when is the best time to sell. It's often contradictory. Are you willing to listen to the wise advice, "Don't list houses in December – no one buys homes in December!"? Or are you more comfortable with the counterargument "But no one lists December houses - you'll own the market!"
Two Months Before Listing
Research Your Local Market
Open houses are a great way to get some ideas about staging and see what's available in your area.
Six Weeks Before Listing
Hiring An Agent
Interview candidates if you're looking for a real agent to manage your listing. Do not just accept a postcard from someone. Ask your friends and family to recommend research agents. Once you have found someone you are comfortable with and feel confident around, you can sign a listing contract and begin to work out a marketing plan. Talk about any remodeling or additional repairs that you believe will be beneficial.
Get Your House Ready
Get the place looking good. Paint or, at the very least, wash interior walls. Make sure to fix any functional or cosmetic items that could turn off buyers. You must be honest with yourself. You probably don't have the time or budget to remodel your kitchen. However, it's worth fixing if you have cabinets that won't close or an avocado green dishwasher in a modern kitchen.
One Month Before Listing
Start Moving Out
Get a storage unit or pod if you have the space and begin packing. This will help you prepare for the move and make your home look better. You should move any storage that you have been using to store your belongings offsite. As many personal belongings as possible should be packed. While the wedding photos on the wall might look impressive, potential buyers will be more interested in your pictures.
Discuss your plans with neighbors. It's nice to let your neighbors know that you are leaving. They can also help market the property. In addition, you might have neighbors who are looking for homes in your area.
It Can Take Up To Three Weeks For To List
Check Your Financial Picture
Find your mortgage loan payment information. To determine how much you owe, or if your sales proceeds aren't enough to satisfy the mortgage, you will need to know the amount. In addition, you must remove any liens from the property.
Keep Cleaning And Decluttering
Agents will likely offer advice about staging. You want your home to look like a model home. Get rid of personal belongings. You should ensure that the furniture is appropriate for the space. Potential buyers shouldn't be looking at a space and trying to find a purpose for it.
One Week Before Listing
Lights, Camera... Marketing
After you have your house in its best condition, it's time to take pictures. Agents will often take photos or hire a photographer to do the job. Don't be picky. It would be best if you did not leave clutter visible. Shades should be opened to allow in as much natural light as possible. These are your home's glamorous shots. These photos should be attractive enough to make you reconsider moving. Don't forget to address any cosmetic problems. The bait-and-switch approach will frustrate buyers.
Your agent should be able to create a positive, engaging description of your home. Then, consider what it was that made you fall in love with it, or at least in a similar way, when you bought it.
Listing Day Snd Beyond
Go Live
Agents should ensure that your house is listed on all major websites. Agents should take care of this by the time your home is active.
Live In A Constant State Of Clean
You can't tell how often you want to say that you only need a few hours' notice before a buyer agent brings potential buyers. Then, someone will call you on the way to your house or from your driveway. You must be ready to move quickly and leave a sparkling home. Each bed should be cleaned every morning. Even if there is no show, it is reasonable to assume that a buyer will visit your house every day. A dirty sock is the best way to get a buyer to visit your home.
Keep An Eye Out For The Offers To Come In
You should always get feedback from your agent after each showing. If there aren't many showings or it's a hot marketplace, you may need to adjust the price early. In any market, the faster you sell, you are likely to receive a higher price. In these early days, it is essential to listen to the market.
