Selling your first home is always a bittersweet moment.   You can appreciate the memories that were created while still being excited for the next chapter.  As a first time seller, I can remember some of the things that caught me by surprise when selling my home.  I had either forgotten things that went on as a buyer or something in the home buying and selling process had changed.  Learn from my mistakes and experiences as a Locust Grove Realtor ® and be ready when it is your turn to sell.

Use a local Realtor® 

I will admit that when I was selling my home (before I was an agent) I did not do this.  Hiring a local Realtor® to list your home has many benefits.  

  • They are aware of the local market and intricacies.
  • Need a light turned off after a showing?  Do you want someone to check on a vacant home after a below zero cold spell?  Do you need someone to open the door for a contractor while you are at work?  A local agent is always nearby and can do these things.
  • Local recommendations:  If you need a recommendation for a contractor or something else, a Locust Grove Realtor ® knows great people to do the work. 

Not sure what agent to hire?  Here are some interview questions to ask.

Make needed repairs

You can be certain that obvious home repairs (a broken sliding glass door, a leaky faucet, ect.) will be noticed by buyers.  They will also be noticed by a home inspector.  Get ahead of the repair requests and fix obvious items that you are aware of before your home goes on the market.  If the item is not something you are able to fix, then talk with your Realtor® and develop a plan for addressing the issue.

If there is a special item in the house you want, put it in the contract.

Did you know that items that are attached to the home like curtain rods, blinds, a television mount and lights are considered part of the home?  If you have a family chandelier or a specific plant in the yard you want to take with you, then have your Locust Grove Realtor ® put that item in the contract as going with the seller.  Please note that you should plan on replacing the item you are taking and repairing any damages that come from removing it.

There is more in an offer than just price. 

The amount of money a buyer will offer you for your home is just part of an offer.  Other parts of the offer include the amount of time it will take to close on the sale of the home, requests for closing cost assistance, and a buyer list of repairs after the inspection is completed.  Your Locust Grove Realtor ® can help you compare multiple offers to determine which one is the best for you.

Be open to suggestions.

Sometimes real estate agents might make suggestions that are hard for sellers to hear.  It might be rearranging the living room and taking out excess furniture to make it more appealing to buyers.  It may be a listing price that is not the same as the one in the seller’s mind.   Remember, you hired a professional to get your home sold.  These suggestions are given to help you do that.  

Gather paperwork

There are a few things that buyers are always interested in knowing.  The age of the roof, hot water heater, and other recent home improvements can help buyers be aware of the age of the mechanics in the home.  Having any paperwork handy that tells when the roof was redone or when the hot water heater was replaced will help your Locust Grove Realtor ® answer these questions when they are asked.

Be prepared to make some changes.

Staging a home to sell is different than how you live in it.  The purpose of staging is to make the home appealing to as many buyers as possible.  When your agent makes suggestions this doesn’t mean that how your home is set up is wrong or distasteful, it just means that your Locust Grove Realtor ® is trying to reach as many potential buyers as possible.  If you plan on moving out of your home before you have sold it, you may need to paint accent walls or change up room colors that don’t look so appealing without all the furniture and décor in the room.

Know your housing market before you enter it. 

As a Locust Grove Realtor ® one question that I consistently am asked is, “how long is it going to take to get my home sold”.  To be honest, the answer to this question is never the same; it all depends on the condition of the home and the activity on the market.  A home that sold in less than two days during the housing frenzy of 2021 may now be on the market for 90 days.  Nothing about the home has changed; the market has.  As a seller, understanding the local market will help you have realistic expectations about the time your home will spend on it.

Know where you are going. 

As important as the plan is for selling your home, it is also just as important to know where you are going.  Staying local?  Your Locust Grove Realtor ® can help you purchase your new home and coordinate the transition between the two.  Moving far away?  Your Realtor® can interview and connect you with another agent in your new area to help you find a home.