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Steps to Selling Your First Home

May 20, 2018
Published by Grayhawk Homes

You’re ready to upgrade or expand into one of the outstanding Grayhawk new homes in Phenix City, AL, but you first have a home to sell. Buying a home is different in some ways to selling a home and there are certain steps that must be followed to make the experience as successful as possible. If you’re a first-time home seller, here are some tips to guide you through the process.

First off, do some research and get to know the current state of the housing market. Since you first bought your home, there have probably been changes in mortgage rates, market availability and other factors. In some markets, there are fewer homes available on the market, which means sellers have more people interested and the potential to reach a solid sale price. However, it does depend on the area, so get to know what your local market is like.

Next up, find a real estate agent who is knowledgeable, friendly, and understands your area and your kind of home. Feel free to interview multiple agents until you find one who seems the most dedicated to selling your home at a good but realistic price.They should show you data for your immediate neighborhood and similar house sales to give you a feel for how the market is currently acting. With that in mind, they should be able to recommend a realistic price for your home.

Once you have agreed on the price to list the home at, you need to make sure your home is in the best condition to appeal to buyers. In some cases that means fixing visible damage, in other cases, it means scaling back on decorations and excessive furniture. You want the rooms to look clean and spacious and neutral enough for homebuyers to envision themselves living there.

Once the home is clean and ready to show, make sure you or your agent take numerous photos or even 360-degree images and virtual tours to help market your home. People tend to look online first and the more attractive photos, the better sense they get of your home and are more likely to want to see it in person. Additional marketing should be done through open houses, social media and any other resources your agent should be able to suggest.

Hopefully, you’ll end up with multiple offers, but work closely with your agent to understand the pros and cons of each offer. Some may be higher, but may take longer for the actual closing. Find the deal that is right for you through negotiation. Once you’ve settled on an agreement with a buyer and negotiated home inspection repairs, you’re ready to close the sale.

The buyer will be doing one last walk-through, just as you’ll be doing a walk-through of one of the new homes in Phenix City, AL,  that you’re purchasing. Hopefully the closing schedules work out well to suit you as a seller and as a buyer. When it’s all done, you’ll be starting a new chapter in a new home ready to make lots of memories.

Categorised in: AL, Market news

This post was written by Grayhawk Homes