Tips for First-Time Home Sellers from Top Agents

There are a million and one reasons why someone would need to sell their house, but if this is your first time to the rodeo, you may not know what to expect. We’ve gathered a collection of tips and insights from top agents that’ll give you an idea of what you can expect during this exciting time. 

1. Is this the right time to sell?

Last year, a whopping 5.64 million people sold their houses despite everything going on throughout the year. What’s interesting is that number is expected to increase in 2021! If you’re thinking about selling in the upcoming year, there are a few signs that’ll let you know this is a good time to sell:

• Your emotions aren’t going to make you hesitate about selling
• You’ve used a home value estimator and you could make a decent profit from the sale
• You have the ability to buy a new house

2. How should I sell my home?

Sellers have a few options available to them when they need to sell. The most common options sellers prefer include: 

Real estate agent

Hiring a real estate agent is the most common way people will sell their homes. Real estate agents are going to do all of the leg work in order to get your home sold as quickly as possible and for the most money possible. 

Sell for cash

Selling a home for cash is a quick way to sell but you may not get as much money as you’d like. But, if you’re in a bind and need to sell quickly, this may be a great way to go. You don’t have to worry about getting your home in good condition. You don’t have to make any huge repairs and closing typically happens within days rather than weeks. 

For sale by owner

If you intend on selling your house on your own, you’re probably going to be waiting a while to get it sold. Sure, you can save thousands of dollars by skipping the real estate agent, but you may get offers for lower than asking. Not only that, but you may not even get your house sold as quickly as you could with an agent. However, if you already have a buyer lined up (like a friend or relative), then this may be a great option. 

3. How can I get ready to sell?

After deciding how you want to sell, you’re going to need to get it ready to sell. If you’re selling it in as-is condition (typical with homes for cash sales), you don’t have to do anything. However, if you’re using an agent, you’ll want to do things like decluttering and deep cleaning the house. You will also want to tackle any incomplete renovation projects and make minor repairs.

4. Can I negotiate?

When you receive an offer, you do have the option of negotiating the terms of the sale. You could negotiate the price (if they offer lower than asking), contingencies (home repairs are the most common), what appliances will be included and so on. If you have an agent, they’ll be able to do the negotiating, but if you’re selling on your own, you need to know what you will and will not waiver on.

5. What will the final stage of selling look like?

Upon accepting an offer, you’re just a few final steps away from closing. During this stage, there will be a final walk through, you’ll want to gather any warranties, instruction manuals and the like for the new owners, and finally sign closing documents.

When you’re selling your home for the very first time, it can be pretty overwhelming. You can alleviate some of the anxiety that’ll come with it by doing a bit of research about the process. Of course, you can always rely on a real estate agent to help you out if you absolutely do not want to deal with the stress on your own!