7 Steps to Selling Your Home

Deciding to sell your home can be a very emotional process, no matter the reason. The first step in selling is to understand your motivation and goal. If you are selling because of outside circumstances, you probably have a timeline to work within.

Why do you want to sell your home?

• Need more space for your growing family
• Job relocation or to be near family
• Downsizing
• Better school districts
• Change in lifestyle

Talk with your Keller Williams Agent about their strategy to sell your home.

In this fast-paced real estate environment, having the right Real Estate Agent sell your home is extremely important. In most urban areas, inventory is low, so you don’t want to underprice nor over-price your home for today's market. Selling is a combination of pricing right, strategic marketing, staging, and bringing in the right buyer at the right time. When choosing a Real Estate professional:

• Invite an Agent in for a Listing Presentation and home value estimate
• Ask questions about the training and tools they have at their disposal
• Ask what their marketing strategy will be for your home
• Trust your gut. Does their style fit your needs?

Once you hire an Agent, listen to their advice. You hired let them work for you. Keller Williams is the #1 Training Real Estate Agency and provides their Agents with every resource available.  

For more information on hiring an Agent, please click here for our eBook on Hiring the Right Agent.

Your KW Agent will provide you with a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis). This report can be the most important tool in determining the listing price. Review the CMA carefully with your Agent so you understand the current. Studying the past sales will not only help you understand the pricing strategy but give you a realistic expectation as to how much your home might appraise for when you go under contract. Remember, the listing price of a similar home is your competition, not a comparable for value.

The CMA reports usually contain:

• Active listings for your area with a similar home; age of construction, number of beds, baths, and square footage.
• Sold listings are homes sold within the last three months, plus pending sales that are likely to close by the time your home is sold.
• Off-Market or expired listings. These are properties that were taken off the market for any reason.

Your Keller Williams Agent knows how to price your home and with these tools, they will be able to help you get market value out of your home. When priced right, you should be very close to an appraised value of your home. That is the goal.

Once you decide to sell your house, it is no longer your home. Your house was a big investment and now you should get what it is worth. First impressions are everything when selling your home. You want buyers to be excited to get out of the car and come into the home. Your KW Agent will guide you with a few suggestions such as:

• Give your home curb appeal
• Declutter
• De-personalize
• Clean thoroughly
• Complete any unfinished projects
• Stage your home for sale

Consult with your Keller Williams Agent on how to get the most value out of your home when it’s time to sell.

Download our eBooks on Home Improvements that Add Value to Sell and Stage It Sell It, for more ideas on preparing your home.

In a buyer’s marketing, sellers are competing to get their homes sold. In a Seller’s market, inventory levels are usually low, and buyers must compete for the available homes. This doesn’t mean that your house will sell as fast as it’s competition if it doesn’t show in it’s best light. Buyers are still picky.

Think like a buyer and take an unbiased look at your property.

• Does it have curb appeal? You may want to plant some seasonal color to brighten up the yard.
• Is the landscaping neat and well kept? Keep the grass trimmed and flower beds weeded.
• Does the exterior and front door feel inviting? Add interest around your front entrance to make it look inviting to potential buyers.
• Do the décor and staging highlight the best features of the home? Cleaning, decluttering, and staging is important, but now you must maintain it at all times.

If you need to do a little extra sprucing up to make the home more desirable, take the time to do it right. It can mean the difference in getting top dollar for your house and selling in a timely manner. Your Keller Williams Agent can advise you on preparing your home.

For quick updates that can help your home sell, download our eBooks on Home Improvements that Add Value to Sell and Stage It Sell It, for more ideas on preparing your home.

To sell your home, you must be flexible and ready. Living in a home for sale isn’t always the easiest, especially with children.

Have a schedule and stick to it the best you can. Put aside half an hour every evening to clean surfaces, straighten pictures, clean counters, fold laundry, and clean the floors. Use 20 minutes in the morning to make sure beds are made, sinks are wiped clean, and the home is ready for the day.

Being flexible and prepared will lessen the stress and keep the process moving in the right direction.

Your Keller Williams Agent will notify you in advance of showings and work with your schedule.

You can take that long-planned vacation, just make sure your Agent can get in contact with you. Most offers have timelines for a response, so you have to be available to review any offers that are received within that timeline or you could lose the sale. If your home is priced right, shows well, and you have a great marketing strategy with your Keller Williams Agent, your chances are high that you can meet your goals. Markets are dynamic and can change, so setting realistic expectations from the beginning of the process will help you get through this transaction.  

Selling your home can be emotional, but remember, its emotional for the buyers as well. Keep your goals in mind. Be realistic.

Rely on your Keller Williams Agent That’s what you hired them for.