Selling your first home can be more stressful than buying your first home because chances are you’ll also be trying to buy another home! Here are 10 tips to help make it less stressful:
1. Price your home accurately.
Your agent will look at comparable recent sales and properties on the market to decide a suggested price. Don’t rely on sites like Trulia or Zillow – they are often inaccurate or out of date.
2. Work with your agent to get educated about the price, type of sale and condition of the other homes your home is up against.
3. Ask your agent for tips to make your home show well.
Your objective is to make it seem like nobody lives in the house. Visit some new model homes for ideas. Most homes can use some decluttering so that buyers see the home rather than the furniture.
4. Most showings will be in the first two to three weeks.
If you haven’t had any offers in the first 30 days in the current northern VA market, you are probably over priced.
5. The cheapest thing you can do for a house with the biggest bang for the buck is to paint and replace carpet. If you do nothing else, consider at least a new coat of paint.
6. Get some curb appeal. Give your front door a fresh coat of paint, add some bright flowers to your entryway, and make sure that any cracks or major cement damage is fixed.
7. Maximize the light in your home.
Take down the drapes, clean the windows, change the lampshades, increase the wattage of your light bulbs and cut the bushes outside to let in sunshine.
8. Make the house easy to show.
Try to accomodate as many requests for showings as possible.
9. Be flexible in negotiations.
You may be able to command a higher price if you can be flexible on your move-out date, for example.
10. Book your movers early
Especially if you are moving at a busy time of year such as spring or summer. You can start packing before your home hits the market, which will give you a head start on the process and also make your home appear less cluttered.
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