Are you thinking about selling?
Selling your home for the first time can be just as intimidating as buying a home. By following our selling process we will guide you through the steps required to successfully sell your property at its highest earning potential.
These tips will help you through the process and help you get your head in the game to successfully sell your home.
It can be tempting to go out looking at properties for sale before you’ve sold your home. Unless you can this is a bad idea. If you fall in love with a property you can’t buy it will either make it much more difficult when the time comes to buy, because you will be comparing everything you see to the one that got away, or it will increase your motivation to sell, which will likely cost you thousands if not tens of thousands when an offer comes in. Once you’re satisfied there are enough of the types of properties in your price range on the market to purchase, focus on selling.
Determine for yourself why you are selling your house
Take a few moments to figure out the purpose of the sale. Life happens! Has your family grown out of the current space? Has a life change created the need to sell? Or maybe the family has grown up and it is time to downsize as you think about retirement? Whatever the reason, have a clear idea as to why the need to sell has come up while you are working on the plan for the future.
Work with your Realtor®
Selling your home is a big deal and it is important to feel comfortable and confident with the agent who will be providing advice and guiding you through the entire sales process. Through a full consultation on your property we will help you determine what improvements or staging may help to increase the value of your home and answer any questions you may have. Together we will determine the best way to approach open houses and showings. Selling your home and preparing to move can be one of the most stressful events in your life so we are here to lighten the load.
Make the most out of your investment
If you are serious about selling ask us what if any renovations or staging would be worthwhile in preparing for the sale of your house. You want your house to appeal to the largest number of potential buyers. Many of our clients have followed our suggestions and completed selective renovation projects prior to listing their property and were pleasantly surprised with the sold price in the end. If you are prepared to take the time or have the ability to invest before you sell it is usually worth the payoff.
Is there a mortgage on the house?
It is important to contact your mortgage holder and find out details surrounding your mortgage including:
- How much do you owe on the mortgage?
- Is the mortgage assumable (Is a buyer able to take over the mortgage. If so, what are the qualifying requirements? ie. minimum income this buyer must earn to qualify)
- Can you pay off the mortgage? If so, is there a pre-payment penalty?
Determine a Selling Price and Property Inclusions
After our consultation we will complete a Comparative Market Analysis on your property to determine a market value considering current market trends, relevant recent sales and other factors. Your property is unique and deserves a thorough and proper evaluation. It is important to determine carefully a selling price and anything the sale must include or exclude. Pricing your home right and ensuring that all your inclusions and terms of sale are contained in the listing contract is critical as it can affect the exposure of your property to potential buyers. If you are unsure, ask us about pricing strategies.
Offers, Negotiation and Sale
As offers come in we will present them to you, provide advice and negotiate with the buyer or their Realtor®. At this stage it will be your job to try and put emotions aside, relax and let the negotiations happen. Many people find the negotiations stressful, and indeed they can be. We enjoy them and take pride in working towards win-win scenarios for all parties. When an agreement is made we will walk you through the closing process and along with your lawyer or notary take care of the time consuming and complicated legal manoeuvres.