Tips for a Smooth Sale

As most folks know, Spring is a very popular season in real estate. Not only is it a time when homes usually look their best—flowers blooming, bushes budding and the sun shining—but many families with children like the idea of getting settled in a new home prior to the next school term starting. It’s also an opportunity to move in more pleasant weather conditions. If selling is on your mind, there are some things you can do to make for a smoother and less stressful escrow.

Purge

Start early to sell, donate, and toss things you no longer use or need—everywhere in your home! Clutter is one of the biggest turn-offs to potential buyers and makes the home look less spacious. Buyers may see the home as not having enough storage. Purging also gives sellers a big head start in the moving process.

Considering Having Pre-Listing Inspections

It is traditionally the buyer who obtains inspections during a sale. This makes sense, since the buyer wants to know the condition of the home. However, if a seller presents a buyer with inspection reports, the buyer knows any issues in the home prior to making an offer. Thus, the offer is based upon the current condition of the home, decreasing the back and forth that is often part of the selling/buying process. While it does cost the seller up front, it can also save time, aggravation, and requests for repairs.

Get Repairs Done

Sellers may elect to get certain items repaired that come up on the inspection reports before going on the market if doing so increases their property’s marketability. This way, the seller has more control over who does the repairs and what they cost.

Complete Seller Disclosures Early

In California, Seller Disclosures are due to the buyer seven days after a home goes into escrow unless agreed differently in the contract. Sellers can decrease stress and do a more thorough job on their disclosure documents if they get a head start on completing them.

Stage Your Home

Staging your home can be an extremely effective piece of the marketing puzzle. Successful stagers make homes appeal to a wide range of prospective buyers. Buyers can imagine themselves in their new home, not the seller’s.

With all these tips, Sellers should always consult with their realtor first. Buyer expectations, inventory, interest rates—so many factors go into driving the real estate market. A successful realtor will have done their research and know what strategy is best for a given niche, thereby giving specific advice for a specific seller. 

 

Debbie Austin is a realtor associate with Keller Williams, Roseville and has been helping clients buy and sell property in the area for over 15 years. If you have a specific real estate question you wish to see addressed, contact Debbie at debbieaustin@kw.com or debbieaustingroup.com.