Selling a home is a process that involves time and effort, and can often be an emotional journey. It can be overwhelming for first-time home sellers. If you’re putting your home on the market for the first time, here are some tips that will help you achieve a smooth sale.
Be ready to let go
Many first-time sellers can be more emotionally engaged in selling a house than seasoned sellers. This is unsurprising given that a first home is often a place where people have made many fond memories and even raised kids. However, this attachment can become detrimental to the house selling process, with sellers not being as objective as they should be to get the best price in the best time.
Invest in staging
Staging enables buyers to better visualize living their desired live in the property. Start with deep cleaning and decluttering to show off your home in its best light. Then depersonalize the space, remove most personal items and showcase a welcoming, neutral home to buyers. Some personal pieces to give the house warmth is fine but the aim is to allow the visitor the see themselves in the space.
A properly staged home with the right furniture, ample spaces, and attractive curb appeal can increase your home’s value. Twenty-three percent of buyers’ agents cited the value increased between one and five percent for staged homes, compared to properties that had not been staged.
Boost the virtual appeal
Innovative technology has changed how buyers search for homes. An overwhelming 96% of buyers today used online tools, with 47% citing that the first step they took in the homebuying the process was to look online. Boosting the web appeal of your home is as crucial as its curb appeal when selling.
Eye-catching, professional photos create a good first impression online, tempting potential buyers to click your listing and turn them into strong leads. While you can take photos using your smartphone, hiring a professional photographer almost always produces better results and is a almost always the better option.
Timing your sale
Is it the optimal time of the year to sell? Putting your home on the market just as the winter season approaches will often mean you’ll see less interest as this is not a peak time and people are more interested in the coming seasonal holidays. Listing for the spring or early summer and you’ll be listing for the time of peak activity in the housing market, but there’ll also be in more competition from other house sellers.
Hire a trusted Realtor
Hiring a seasoned real estate agent is highly recommended for first-time home sellers. A real estate agent has the selling expertise to guide you through the process and prevent you from making costly mistakes. You get valuable guidance and information, from comparable market analysis, staging advice, setting the competitive price, and knowing when is the right time to sell.
With a real estate agent by your side, you get the benefit of marketing your home to a large listing pool of buyers. Not only will you gain access to the Multiple Listing Service the agent belongs to, you’ll also be part of their private listings network. Just as important you’ll have a skilled negotiator in your corner, putting your interests first.
Market and sell your home in La Quinta real estate, with LA Quinta real estate agents. Contact experienced real estate agent, Kathleen O’Keefe Galigher to provide you professional marketing as well as the personal touch when putting your home up for sale. Call 760.567.7822 or leave a message here.