INFORMATION ON SELLING A HOME
Step One - Plan and Prepare
Some 5 million existing homes are sold each year, and while each
transaction is different every owner wants the same thing - the best
possible deal with the least amount of hassle and aggravation.
Unfortunately, home selling has become a more complex business than it
used to be. New seller disclosure statements, longer and more
mysterious form agreements, and a range of environmental concerns have
all emerged in the past decade.
More importantly, the home-selling process has changed. Buyer
brokerage - where REALTORS® represent homebuyers - is now common
nationwide, and good buyer-brokers want the best for their clients.
The result is that while almost 100,000 existing homes are sold
each week, the process is not as easy for sellers as it was five or 10
years ago. Surviving in today's real estate world requires experience
and training in such fields as real estate marketing, financing,
negotiation and closing - the very expertise available from local
REALTORS®.
Are you ready?
The home-selling process typically starts several months before a
property is made available for sale. It's necessary to look at a home
through the eyes of a prospective buyer and determine what needs to be
cleaned, painted, repaired and tossed out.
Ask yourself: If you were buying this home what would you want to
see? The goal is to show a home which looks good, maximizes space and
attracts as many buyers - and as much demand - as possible.
While part of the "getting ready" phase relates to repairs,
painting and other home improvements, this is also a good time to ask
why you really want to sell.
Selling a home is an important matter and there should be a good
reason to sell - perhaps a job change to a new community or the need
for more space. Your reason for selling can impact the negotiating
process so it's important to discuss your needs and wants in private
with the REALTOR® who lists your home.
When should you sell?
The marketplace tends to be more active in the summer because
parents want to enroll children in classes at the beginning of the
school year (usually August). The summer is also typically when most
homes are likely to be available.
Generally speaking, markets tend to have some balance between
buyers and sellers year-round. In a given community, for example, there
may be fewer buyers in late December, but there are also likely to be
fewer homes available for purchase. So, home prices tend to rise or
fall because of general demand patterns rather than the time of the
year.
Owners are encouraged to sell when the property is ready for sale,
there is a need or desire to sell, and the services of a local REALTOR®
have been retained.
Step Two > > > |
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Consumers 
