Guide to Selling a Home

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A lot of planning should go into selling your home in Windsor-Essex. Whether it’s a condo or house, you need to know what to do to make the right impression on potential buyers and get the right price for your home.

Home Preparation

Preparing your home to make a good impression on buyers is crucial, and while it can take a lot of work, it is usually well worth it.

Remove clutter and personalization:

Having too many things visible can be distracting to buyers, and can take away from their ability to envision the space as their own. Eliminate as much clutter as possible by putting away what you can into out of the way spaces, including personal items like photos, mementos, collectibles, etc. The idea is to create a neutral appearance for the space.

Cleaning

Be very thorough in your cleaning – from the baseboards to the ceiling, to the appliances, living areas, and more, you need to keep the space as clean as possible to make a good impression. Hiring professionals to clean the carpets and other tough areas of the home can help, but you will need to work to maintain the cleanest space possible while your home is on the market.

Repairs and Renovations

Fixing small household issues like minor damage, leaks, chipped paint, and other issues can help present the image of a home that is well-maintained to prospective buyers. Little things can make a big difference here, so take care of as much as you can.

Home Inspection

As a seller, you should consider a pre-listing home inspection. This can help identify issues that buyers might bring up and allow you to address them in advance so they don’t become an issue. Even if you aren’t going to get everything fixed that a buyer might want taken care of, you can use this information to help determine your asking price.

Pricing and Marketing

Pricing your home can be tricky – with factors including what other homes in the area have sold for, whether or not you have a bidding war over your property, the current market overall, the condition and amenities of your home, competition, what time of year you sell, and much more, a lot goes into the price. From there, you have to consider how long you stay at one price point before changing it if your home isn’t selling.

A real estate professional like myself can be a great help in determining how you should price your home. I know the market, recent trends, what can make a difference to buyers, and how to market your home to draw the most attention from buyers.

In-Person Showings

When you have enough attention from potential buyers, it’s time to let them see the place. There are a number of things you will want to consider when it comes time to show the property to those who might want to buy it:

Have Flexible Showing Times

Many people will only be available to see the property in the evenings or on weekends, and if you want to sell, you have to work with that schedule.

Leave During Showings

Having the seller there during a showing can create an awkward situation for both parties, so it is best to go out and leave the showing to a real estate professional.

Make sure your home is in the best possible condition

Clean up as much of the day-to-day mess as you can, including doing the dishes and laundry, making the beds, cleaning up after your pets, and so forth.

Open Houses

Open houses can be an effective tool to draw in the most potential buyers. These public showings create a low-pressure environment to allow people to see the place at their leisure rather than having to have to arrange a personal showing of a property that may or may not be what they’re looking for.

Feedback

Respond to questions and concerns from interested buyers quickly and with an understanding of where they are coming from. Being honest and empathetic about their concerns with a property could go a long way towards making them satisfied enough to put in an offer.

Offers

Once you have an interested party (or more than one), you will receive offers. The offer will cover certain points, including:

  • Deposit
  • Price
  • Closing Date
  • Irrevocable time/date
  • Conditions

You can respond to the offer in any of the following ways:

  • Accept: the offer is accepted and you have your buyer.
  • Counter-Offer: Make a proposal to the seller, changing certain conditions of their offer, and await your response.
  • Decline: Outright refuse them without making a counter-offer.

An experienced real estate agent like me can handle the tough negotiations for you and understands how to best approach these situations. I will work with your situation in mind to get you the best deal for your home. I also understand all of the details and conditions that can go into an offer, and can help you navigate these situations and understand what’s going on at every step of the way.

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