Selling Your Home

Have you been hearing all the talk about the real estate market in the last 6 months or so, and wondering if maybe it actually IS the right time to sell? You're not the only one. (I've even thought about it myself!) But where to begin? Well, the obvious solution is just to call me, right? Kidding. Well, kind of... Stick with me. Here are a few things to think about as you get ready sell your home in the Richmond area. Obviously, I'd like you to call me, but if not me, call your agent of choice. Sooner than you think. We will walk through your home and pull the data to help give you a comprehensive list of to do's, discuss your personal goals, and touch on pricing, at least within a range. No one knows your home as well as you do. So, if there are items that you know need repairing, making a list of those and starting to get them checked off is a great place to start. Clean, clean, and clean some more. (I have a comprehensive cleaning list to remind you of the things buyers tend to look at that sellers often forget.) Staging is often important in our market and others. Depending on your home, that may mean just decluttering, and depersonalizing your space, and others it means a full staging with furniture, art, and accessories. Know the comparables and price it well. Yes, the market has been wild for the past few months, but pricing has always been, and will always be, a crucial component of a successful home sale. That means paying attention to the comparables, the market, and your own personal goals to get the pricing right. Getting your home prepped can sometimes be accomplished very quickly, but more often than not, it takes a little bit of time (Real talk? The average time it takes to prep a home for sale is 2 months, from start to finish.) The most important thing to know? Call your agent as soon as you start thinking about selling. That will absolutely reduce your prep time, keep you on the right track, and make sure that any money you spend helps maximize your time and sales price and minimize your stress.  Are you ready?   

Today, I’m diving into an important topic that could make a big difference in the amount of money you net from your home sale. If you haven't been living under a rock, you probably know the market is HOT. There are more buyers who need houses than houses for sale. That means your home is in demand and it’s not even listed yet! That sounds like great news for you, doesn't it? It is! As a result of this market, I know there are lots of potential sellers thinking… "Hmm maybe we should just put a sign up in the front yard and see what happens." The truth is, the worst thing you can do as a seller in a hot market is to go it alone on the sale of your home. So before you head to the local hardware store for that "For Sale By Owner" sign, keep reading... I know you're doing the math and figuring out how much selling your home on your own could potentially save you... but I wanted to shed some light on a few important things to consider before you decide to go that route. If you're looking to the internet to determine that perfect listing price, you could be losing a significant amount of money. Online home values aren't always entirely accurate which means basing your list price on what the internet is saying could result in you leaving money on the table. Remember, those online "valuation" tools are just guessing, because they haven't been in your home, or anyone else's. They don't know that you just redid your bathrooms, or that the neighbor did not. Contracts and negotiations can feel like a foreign language if you're not a real estate professional. Not understanding how to navigate these or have someone work in your best interest could result in sticky situations and money lost. Demand - when you're in a hot market, one of the greatest benefits to the seller is that they're typically in the driver's seat. When there are more buyers than listings for sale, your house can spark a bidding war when it hits the market. However, without an agent helping you prep your home for the market, price it strategically, market it with a variety of methods and really get it out there, you can really miss out on that demand. You might have a buyer or two, but that isn't going to drive the price up (and get you an offer with the best terms) like it would if you had someone working for you. The best advice I can give to someone thinking about selling is this - Before you make the decision to do it alone, do some research and find an agent who has good reviews, comes highly recommended and who you can learn something about before reaching out. What does their experience look like? What are their clients saying? Schedule a consultation with them to see how they can help you net the most money possible from your home sale. Successful home selling is rooted in doing your research and making smart decisions that are going to position you in the best place possible when your house hits the market! (And I'm here to help!)