“New year, new you” sometimes entails a new space with new views! Are you considering selling your house or another property this year? I have a few things for you to add to your to-do list before you start. After all, putting a residence on the market is more than simply placing a “For Sale” sign in the front yard!

First thing’s first, hire a Realtor! 

Selling your home can be a daunting task, especially if this is your first time. It is important to hire a professional who is knowledgeable about the real estate landscape in your area. This way, they can help offer advice to ensure you get the best possible offer. Your Realtor is responsible for showing your home to potential buyers so you won’t have to, offering staging advice, helping place your home on the most reputable sites, offering advice throughout negotiations, hiring other help during the closing process and much more! Managing a sale on your own can end up being a bigger bite than you can chew.

Agree on a price.

Determining a selling price can be a challenge. Ideally, you’d like to sell your home for more than what you paid for it so that you can put the money you make back into your new place. Unfortunately, sometimes the market has other ideas. Do your research! Find out how much other houses in your neighborhood and surrounding areas are selling for. This comparable data can determine how much your home might be worth and how much buyers are willing to pay at that time. Setting a price too high can potentially hurt you. If you’re asking for something far beyond comparable sales, your property could sit on the market too long, which can lead to tough decisions to lower the price and provide leverage for buyers to offer less. If you’ve hired a Realtor, they will be able to help you consider a strategic price and advise you on how much you can feasibly ask for. 

Consider the closing period. 

Closing periods can affect a buyer’s decision on purchasing a home. If they are looking to move within the next month but you plan to move out in three months, they will have to move on and check out other options. West Florida is currently a very tight market, with high demand and low inventory. Expect shorter closing periods as more people are eager to buy, or you at least need to be flexible with your buyer’s timeline. If you’re not ready to vacate your home for any reason, consider waiting until it’s the right time for you.

Know where you’re going next.

Something to think about when determining your closing period is where you are planning to live on closing day. However, there are potential complications you need to be aware of first. Do you have children or pets? Does an elderly parent who lives with you require your care? Have you accumulated a lot of belongings over the years that will require several weeks to pack, sell or put in storage? Consider all of these factors and have a move-out plan in place before you list your property. 

For example, if you’re building a new home or moving into a fixer upper, you don’t want to close on your current home too soon in case construction doesn’t finish on time. If you’re too hasty to sell, you, your dependents and your pets may have to be temporarily put up in an apartment, which can add a whole other layer of complications and stress. 

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Once you’ve checked these items off of your mental to-do list, you’re ready to start your home selling journey! I share more about staging your home for tours and enhancing your home’s curb appeal here. If you live in West Florida and would like to discuss listing your home, give me a call at 941-225-1500 to begin strategizing your big move.