Step-by-Step on How to Sell Your Home

 Considering selling your home in Port Liberte? It can be helpful to understand the behind-the-scenes process of selling a home. Luckily, we are here to help you understand the ins and outs of selling a home! Here’s what you can expect when you list your home in Port Liberte.

1. Where to Start

Does selling a home seem very overwhelming to you? Don’t stress! We have broken down what to prepare yourself for during the process of selling a home.

Find an expert agent you can trust!

A crucial first step to listing your home on the market is finding someone you can trust to help you navigate the complex waters of selling a home! Enlisting the help of an experienced agent who understands the area, and the market, will save you a lot of time in the long run.

Do a walkthrough with your agent

In order to optimize the amount of money that will increase the value of your home, consider what repairs and improvements you can make around the property. Your agent can walk the home and make recommendations for both major and minor repairs or improvements that will increase your list price, which will give you more bang for your buck.

Make repairs

By making home improvements prior to listing the home, you are able to increase how much they can list for. Even painting the inside or outside of the home can have a huge impact on what your home sells for! Other home improvement projects could include refinishing your hardwood floors, fixing or replacing your roof or siding, updating your HVAC system, or completing cosmetic updates that will be more in line with what is popular on the market these days.

Be competitive

While it is tempting to set your home at a price that you think it is valued at, it is important to keep it at a competitive price so that you are not losing potential buyers. A good way to make sure that you are pricing your home correctly is to compare the price of nearby homes that have recently sold, the price of nearby homes currently on the market, and the current condition and location of your specific home. Working with your agent to determine a competitive list price is also a good idea!

Prep the home

Another reason it is a good idea to start early when preparing to sell is to give yourself time to declutter. Working your way through the home removing clutter and junk will help you down the road when it comes to moving. It also adds exponential value when you are preparing the space to be shared with the general public. Deep-cleaning your home will make your place feel like more home to those who may be interested in buying!

2. What’s Next?

After taking these first steps, you may wonder what else you can do to make the most bang for your buck!

Show your home

Now that you have selected a real estate agent, prepped your home, and completed renovations, you are ready to show your home! This can be a very stressful time for many as your home could potentially be shown at any time. This means that you will have to keep it neat, clean, and staged at all times. Be sure to keep a consistent cleaning schedule when showing your home.

You have an offer… now what?

If you have found a buyer who is interested in your home, they will make you an offer stating how much they will pay for your home, what their mortgage amount is, and when they intend to close and occupy the home. This is also a chance for the potential buyer to express any contingencies they may have. As the seller, it is your choice to either accept the offer or negotiate for different terms.

Negotiations

Once you have decided to engage in negotiations with another party you can add in your own stipulations. This will allow you to add in your contingencies regarding closing dates and buyer financing.

Sign a Purchase and Sale Agreement

Once each party has agreed upon an offer you will both sign a contract called a Purchase and Sale Agreement. This details all of the specific terms, conditions, and any contingencies of the home sale.

3. What Do I Do After the Contract Is Signed?

You've signed on the dotted line! Now you may be wondering what happens next.

Prepare to move out

Now that you have an offer that is somewhat solidified, it is a great time to make a plan for where you will reside after this home is sold. Will your new home be ready in time for you when you have to move out of this home, or will you need to find temporary housing? Speak with your real estate agent to see if they have any suggestions for after you sell your home!

Comply with inspections

The buyer will hire an inspector to ensure that everything in the home is up to par. This is mostly to ensure they will not have to do any major repairs immediately upon moving into the home. The inspector will go throughout every inch of the home, paying special attention to the roof, basement, heating and cooling systems, the structure of the home, plumbing, and electrical parts to the home. Problems such as these can be costly fixes and will be something the buyer will not want to pay for. The buyer will usually negotiate with the seller to cover the cost of the repairs prior to completing the contract.

Enter escrow

If you are like most people, the term escrow can be a bit confusing. This time is an in-between time between when you have sold the home and when you actually receive the money for the sale. Your job during this time is to uphold your responsibilities while in this period. Essentially you will work with your agent to complete paperwork and make sure that all negotiated terms to the contract are complete.

4. Last Steps

You have put in all of the hard work, and now it is all about to come to fruition. Just a few more steps remain before you have sold your home!

5. Congratulations! You’ve just sold your home!

All of your hard work is coming to a close and it’s almost time to hand over the keys. All you have to do now is sign, pay, and close on the home! In the negotiations, both parties should have agreed to a predetermined closing date. On this date, you and the buyer will sit down with your agents to sign all of the paperwork and pay all of your fees. At this time, you will hand over the keys and title to the home. On this date you should receive a check for the remaining balance after the rest of your mortgage has been paid to the bank.

Ready to Sell Your Port Liberte Home?

Our experienced team of realtors is here to help you throughout the whole selling process! Everything from home staging to professional photographs all the way to negotiations and signing the closing paperwork, we are here to stand by you every step of the way! Reach out to our team today to learn how we can successfully list and sell your home in Port Liberte.