HOME SELLER FAQS (PART 1)
THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS BY HOME SELLERS
Like most parts of the homeownership journey, selling that home comes with a ton of questions. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions from our clients, and, of course, the answers you’re looking for!
Q: WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO SELL?
A: Many of our clients are surprised to learn that winter, especially around the holidays, is a great time to sell. There’s less competition in the market and buyers are highly motivated to find that just-right listing. Learn more about selling your home during the holidays here.
Q: WHAT STEPS SHOULD I TAKE TO PREPARE MY HOME FOR SALE?
A: At a bare minimum, you’ll want to declutter, make obvious repairs, and think about staging and curb appeal. Check out these helpful articles for more info:
Q: WHAT IMPROVEMENTS WILL HELP ME SELL MY HOME?
A: Apart from obvious cosmetic fixes like holes in walls, broken tiles, and leaky faucets, there are remodeling projects that will dramatically increase your home’s value. These include installing energy-efficient windows and updating your kitchen and bathrooms. Read more here.
Q: SHOULD I WAIT TO SELL BEFORE BUYING ANOTHER HOUSE?
A: It really depends on your specific preferences and situation. If you sell first, you’ll have money for a down payment and won’t have to juggle two mortgages at once. But, you may also need to move twice and you’ll feel pressured to find a new home fast.
Alternatively, if you buy a new home first, you’ll only move once and have no pressure. However, financing is usually expensive and hard to find in this situation. Read more here!
Q: HOW MUCH IS MY HOUSE WORTH AND HOW IS THAT NUMBER DETERMINED?
A: Great question! Your home’s value depends on square footage, number of beds and bathrooms, repairs needed, recent updates, and the local market, among other factors. There are some handy free tools to help you figure out how much your home is worth, like our free valuation report. And, here are some surprising things that impact property value.
Q: IS IT EASIER TO SELL A VACANT HOUSE?
A: Nope! It’s actually best to leave furniture and big-ticket items behind to make your house feel high-end and cozy. But, you’ll want to clean thoroughly and remove clutter. Get more tips for selling your house fast here.
Q: DO I NEED A REAL ESTATE AGENT?
A: You can certainly sell your home yourself, but we don’t recommend it. Sure, it’s in our best interest to tell you to use a realtor 😉, but seriously, there are big perks to having a real estate professional on your side. For one, we sell homes all day, every day. We know the market and have the best tools at our disposal to help get your home in front of interested buyers. Check out this article for more ways in which hiring a real estate agent can make things a lot easier for you.
Q: WHAT DO SELLER’S AGENTS DO?
A: Seller’s agents are also known as real estate brokers, realtors, or real estate agents. All of these titles refer to a person who represents a person selling their property. Realtors help you prep your property for sale, set a proper price, determine a selling strategy, market your property, and negotiate with buyers, among other things.
We cover the differences between real estate agents, brokers, and realtors® here.
Q: WHO PAYS REALTOR FEES WHEN SELLING A HOME?
A: The seller most often pays these fees.
Q: DO I HAVE TO HOST AN OPEN HOUSE?
A: It is 100% not a requirement for successfully selling your home! You can certainly have an open house to help attract interested buyers and create some hype around your property, but the most important part to selling your home is a holistic strategy with online marketing. Your online listing is the most important part of your home selling process.
Curious about how to host a successful open house? Read this.
Have more questions? Our real estate blog is a great place to start, and we’d love to answer any questions you have! Give our qualified and experienced realtors a call today at (608) 957-2683. And be on the look out for part 2 of our Home Seller FAQs!