If you are thinking of selling your home, talk to a REALTOR first to see what you need to do to get it ready to put on the market.
“Why a Realtor first?”, you might ask. Because a REALTOR’s job is to know what sells a home. They know the market and what will attract buyers to get a quicker sale. Getting the advice of a professional before losing money trying to figure it out on your own is always the better way to go.
- Do your research and find the REALTOR you want to work with.
A REALTOR can give you suggestions (if any are needed) of what you can do to help make your home more attractive to buyers. Do this months or even years before you plan to sell. This will give you time to plan and save money for any big-ticket items that may be needed. It will also keep you up to date as to what other homes are selling for in your neighborhood and how yours compares. It will cut back on surprises when the time comes to sell.
- Ask your REALTOR, not your friend who has great taste or a neighbor contractor, what they think you should do to your house to help it sell. Every house is different and what improvements help one home might not help yours.
REALTORS know what needs to be done to set you up for home selling success. Hold off and talk to friends after talking to your REALTOR about what upgrades are needed, they can help implement the plan you and your REALTOR have put in place.
- Lastly, do NOT shoot the messenger!
If a REALTOR gives you suggestions of how to improve your home, see it as how to attract buyers, not that something is wrong with it now. Buyers expect a lot in the homes they are looking at these days, mainly due to the popularity of HGTV remodeling shows (which is another article onto itself!). Embrace that your REALTOR is looking out for your best interests and wants to get your home sold for the highest price possible in the least amount of time.
Create a relationship with your REALTOR, contact them for everything Real Estate related. No, you aren’t going to be buying/selling a new house every year, but you will be maintaining and improving your home from the day you buy it until the day you sell it, and a good REALTOR can help you with all your needs. That should be one of the first people you call if you are thinking of remodeling, need a good painter, cannot decide if adding a 4th bedroom or a pool would be the better investment. REALTORS are a great resource when it comes to any questions about your home…and the advice is always free!