Selling or buying a home is a big deal and one that involves many steps in the process, so it can be challenging to know where your work ends and a professional realtor’s work begins. At what point in the process should you call a realtor?
You want to contact a realtor at the right time to streamline your process and to get some concrete information. With this information, you and your realtor can work together to help you sell your home at the best price.
It’s vital to get professional help selling your home, but there are several things you should take care of before getting in touch with a realtor.
Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage
Knowing what finances you have to work with is essential before selling your home. Many factors can affect your mortgage’s term, price, and interest rate, and any one of these factors will determine the home you can afford. You want to make sure if you can afford a mortgage and at how much so that you can align your new home search with your current home’s sale.
Declutter
When it comes to selling your home, a tidy home goes a lot further than you might think.
Potential buyers want to imagine themselves in your home, but that won’t be easy to do if every surface area is filled with your furniture and belongings.
If you’re planning to move, you might be looking to get rid of some things anyway, so you might as well start to par down your belongings before you sell, or at least put them into storage.
Decluttering can take longer than you think, so be sure to set aside a couple of weeks to get it done.
Also read: Why Shall I Sell My House Through an Estate Agent?
Do a Deep Clean
Cleaning to prepare your home for sale is much more involved than your regular day-to-day cleaning. It’s crucial to thoroughly clean every nook and cranny, including closets, drawers, cupboards, garage, ceilings, chimney, and light fixtures, and focus specifically on the kitchen and bathrooms.
Make sure your windows are spotless to allow more light in, and consider replacing the filter in your furnace to improve the airflow in your home, as well as the quality of the air you breathe.
Basic Repairs
You should avoid doing significant renovations before consulting with your real estate agent. Still, before contacting one, it is a good idea to get minor, basic repairs out of the way.
When you’re in a home for a while, it’s easy to develop blind spots to some of your home’s quirks, as well as dated or deteriorating features. These are some key areas that homeowners should ensure are in tip-top shape:
- Patch and paint the walls.
- Repair leaky faucets.
- Replace any cracked or broken glass.
- Repair the roof, if necessary.
- Change dated light fixtures.
- Replace worn or stained carpeting.
Look Into Qualified Agents
When you’re entrusting someone to sell your home, you don’t want to hire the first agent you find on Google. Take the time to research and find an agent that best suits your needs.
Look for an experienced agent that knows your area and has sold other homes there, as they will be experts on pricing your home appropriately and will have an extensive network of contacts to help advertise your home and find you a new one.
Make the Call
Once you’ve gone through this list, you’ll be ready to call your agent. They may have their own suggestions for renovations or staging that will create your home’s greatest appeal that best suits your market.
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