Selling a house is a process that requires a lot of work and once you take the selling decision there is no turning back from it. Hence, you need to do your homework before listing your property for sale to make sure you get the best deal.
Here is a list of the things you need to consider before listing a property for sale.
1- Resort to the help of a professional
Selling a property isn’t only a daunting and exhausting process, but also one that can’t be done alone. Resorting to the help of a professional real estate realtor is a must when thinking of listing a property for sale. However, you need to be able to differentiate between the realtors who will get you a good deal from the ones who will rip you off.
To do that, you must check with all the clients who dealt with a realtor to make sure they are good at what they do. Then check their website and online listings to see if the list is an updated one or not and whether the property images are clear and appealing or not. Doing your own homework when it comes to hiring the right realtor will save you a lot in the long term.
2- Research the local housing market and set a reasonable price
Before listing your property for sale you should do a proper research on the local housing market first. This will help you set a price that isn’t too low or too high for the market. This research will also tell you the number of other properties in your area listed for sale where you will get a general idea of what the other competition in your area looks like. You can also go and check the other houses listed for sale in your neighborhood so you have a clearer insight into their features that your house might be lacking.
3- Adding curb appeal
When selling a property you must think like a buyer. Hence, you should do all the minor fixes such as painting your walls or fixing that broken window glass. Such things won’t only make your property appealing to others, but will also increase its value in the market. If you refrain from doing such minor enhancements as they will cost you much, then be ready to deduct from the selling price for a buyer will be the one doing all the repairs.
4- Declutter your space
It is always advisable when getting ready to sell your house to get rid of all your personal stuff and give the property a more professional look. This will help potential buyers better check the property and visualize themselves actually living in it. Try as much as you can to remove all your portraits and do a clean sweep of counters, windowsills, and tables. Depersonalizing your space will make your property much appealing to potential buyers.
5- Repaint all your walls
When living in a house for years, it is bound that your wall paint will be eccentric to suit your taste. Whether its wallpapers or unconventional colors such as orange or red, it is a must to get rid of all these unusual colors before listing a property for sale. Repainting walls to neutral tones such as white or beige is always a wise move for buyers could be turned off from the original paint color.
6- Be ready to make the emotional break
You have lived in this house for years and even though you went and found yourself a new home for you and your family, but bidding your old house farewell is always the hardest thing in the selling process. Which is why it is preferable to make the emotional break before selling your property. Start thinking about the future and the reasons that drove you to move into a new and spacious house. This way you will make peace with the selling decision and the process will be much easier on you.
7- Set a time for showings
It is crucial that you set a time that is convenient for buyers to check your house and it is preferable to make it on weekdays and weekends to allow more buyers to check the property. And since your house will be open all during weekdays and weekends, you should make sure it is clean and tidy to make a good first impression.
8- Choose the ideal time to sell
Just because you are ready to sell your property, doesn’t mean that this timing is the ideal time to sell your property. Before listing your property for sale you should know that there are times when you won’t get the best deal as the market is a little bit slower than usual. Hence, you should check with your realtor first and get a general idea of the ideal time to sell your house.
Jamie Moulton is a senior content curator at JustProperty.com, a leading real estate portal in the MENA region, headquartered in Dubai, UAE.”
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