Selling your home?

Here are a few tips if you are considering selling your home.

Ok so you have decided to sell your home… and you’ve read the tips about hiring an agent, getting your home inspected, staging etc… but what does that mean for you? Whether you choose Rosy Baron and the Gibson Group or not, you will want to pick an agent that uses marketing tools to your advantage, has a professional photographer take photographs and/or  a virtual tour, works full time (and doesnt do real estate on the side or as a hobby), yes they get 3-6% of the sale price so make sure you pick someone who believes they need to work for that %.  Here are a few other details to keep in mind.

Get your home inspected
Having your home inspected by a professional can ensure any major fixes are completed before buyers have it inspected on their own. This will also help when pricing your home, as repairs that you don’t complete may prompt potential buyers to negotiate for a lower price.

• Ask for an up-to-date measurement of your home’s square footage, noting the size of each room
• You will need to include the purchase date of appliance
• Use your home inspector to find out information regarding local schools, taxes and your home’s proximity to public transportation if you don’t already know

Make needed fixes                       
Making any necessary fixes that you’ve been holding off on can help ensure your home can compete with other homes for sale. Making cosmetic changes, such as painting the walls, can also help it be more appealing to a wider variety of potential buyers.

• Plant seasonal flowers outdoors that are low maintenance
• Finish any do-it-yourself projects such as lubricating squeaky doors or fixing leaking faucets
• Sweep the sidewalk and other walkways leading to your home
• Touch up any chipped paint on your home’s exterior
• Repaint any walls that aren’t neutral colors using lighter tones
• Mow the yard and trim the bushes
• Declutter common areas of the home and remove excessive personal items

Price to sell                        
When listing your home for sale, it is important that it is priced correctly. Using a real estate agent who is familiar with the area can be helpful, while having an inspection completed and doing your research on the competition can also ensure an appropriate listing price.

• Set a realistic selling price, including a high and a low
• Determine a listing price with an understanding that it may be negotiated lower
• Compare your ideal price with those of homes have have sold in recent months
• You should also compare those of homes that are currently listed for sale