If last year's decline in the housing market or economic uncertainty prompted you to hold off on selling your home, you're probably anxious to get the ball rolling. Not only is the spring and summer the best time to sell a property, but the market is also in your favor. There is a high demand for available properties while the inventory is shrinking. If all goes according to plan, you could get your house sold in record time for a hefty price. That is if you don't make these mistakes listed below.
Not Working With a Real Estate Agent
Putting your house on the market and waiting for the highest bidder seems like an easy process, but that's far from the truth. There are various rules, regulations, complex processes, and strategies to selling a home that you may not be familiar with. Failure to understand these things could result in code violations, legal ramifications, or short-changing yourself on a sale.
Real estate agents are educated, trained, and experienced in the ever-changing housing market and trends. They will use their expertise, resources, and networks to ensure you get through the process as smoothly and satisfied as possible.
Not Using A Contractor for Improvements
You may want to save a few bucks while increasing your property's resale value by taking on improvement projects and renovations yourself. The only problem is, if you're not experienced as a contractor, you could do more harm than good trying to DIY. If you damage the property, overlook a permit, or complete something that isn't up to par, you'll lose a lot of money in the process.
When it comes to safety, quality, and boosting resale value, it's best to let the pros handle it. You can use resources like HomeAdvisor to get matched to qualified contractors in your area.
Not Investing In Aesthetics
While aesthetic appeal isn't the main priority for homebuyers (or at least it shouldn't be), that doesn't mean you leave this out of your resell plans. Aesthetics, after all, are what grabs their attention and encourages them to want to learn more about the property.
Doing something as simple as using HomeAdvisor pro reviews to find qualified painters to apply a neutral color to the walls can make a big difference. It's the small things that go a long way in driving home the sale of a property. So, take a look around and make a list of things you can do to improve the appearance of the property without breaking your budget. Then check out a HomeAdvisor review or two to find the best professionals for the job.
Skipping The Staging And Open House Process
When your real estate agent recommends marketing strategies like home stating or an open house, it's not just for the glitz and glam. Homebuyers want to get the full experience of what life would be like if they purchased your property. Seeing furniture, photographs, appliances, and other decor throughout the house enables them to envision their dreams. Hiring a home staging company isn't as expensive as you think, because you're renting not buying the merchandise.
As for open houses, they give you an opportunity to hear the opinions of homebuyers so that you can make necessary changes to get your house sold. If you're lucky, open houses can also be the breeding ground for bidding wars. If several buyers are interested in the property, they'll make an offer hoping to beat out the competition. Obviously, this would work well in your favor.
You've waited a year to sell your house. Now that things are improving, it's the perfect opportunity for you to put your place on the market. Although the demand is high and inventory is low (which works in your favor), don't get ahead of yourself and ruin a good thing. If you're going to get the best value for your property, you must avoid the mistakes listed above at all costs.
