Getting Prepared to Sell

Are you thinking about selling your home?  Well there are actually some steps you need to take before you put your home on the market. You can lose some serious buyers and serious money if you put a sign out in your yard before your home is ready.

1. If you are thinking about selling your home you have to think about where you are going to live next. Have a general idea of the locations you want to move to and when you think you will be ready to make that step. This will help you in deciding when you should list your home for sale.
2. Talk to a lender. See if you qualify for the type of home you are looking to buy and how much you have left to payoff on your current residence. This will paint you a clearer picture on what you should be looking at and if you should even be looking to move. You might not want to move if you can't break even or cash flow on your property.
3. Interview a few agents to get an idea of what your home might sell for and find out what net amount you will walk away with.  I like to provide a high end and low end estimate so you can see the best and worst case scenarios. It isn't always wise to list your home with the agent that gives you the highest price. Ask for some back up information. Look at their trends, ratios, etc. before choosing.
4. It's time to put the gloves on and get to cleaning. You need to remember that you are trying to sell your house, not your lifestyle. Unclutter your home by putting away pictures, personal touches, toys, and so forth. You want the prospective buyers to be able to see how they will live in your home.  If you have accent paints or rooms painted for your children, you might want to consider going neutral.  Sure it is a small expense upfront but can make you so much more in the end. Do a gut check on your carpet and determine if you need it cleaned or replaced. Fixing your home so that it is aesthetically pleasing is key. The other repairs can be negotiated and done after a home inspection has been completed. 
5. As much as you might want to be home every time you have a showing, DON'T. Prospects like to talk about the home and discuss what they see. Being home makes it harder for them to focus on how they really feel about the home and puts too much of attention on you.

If you are thinking about listing a home in the Dallas area, reach out to me. I come with my own contractor/cleaning crew and oversee the work. My goal is to make the process of buying and selling your home as seamless as possible.

Cheers!

Bina S Beechum

https://www.facebook.com/REwithBina