Ultimate Guide to Selling Your House

Are you planning to sell your home on the gorgeous Emerald Coast of Florida? Whether you are relocating or plan to up or downsize, you must prepare before you list your home to get the best price possible and ensure the selling process is stress-free. Fortunately, selling a house doesn’t have to cause anxiety if you work with an experienced local agent. This guide will help you prepare.

When it comes to selling, you have options. Here are the three to consider:

Though you will pay a commission to an agent, it’s always recommended that you use an expert to help you sell your home. Not only does an agent know the market and can help you price your home competitively with a comparative market analysis, but they can also handle all the details, including showings, negotiations, and paperwork. And according to the National Association of Realtors, homes represented by an agent sold for an average of $105,000 more than those sold For Sale By Owner.

When you sell your home independently, you may not have to pay a commission to a seller’s agent, but you must do all the work yourself. This includes pricing the home, advertising it, handling offers, and completing all the paperwork that goes along with selling a home. For most people, the amount of work involved is not worth saving a few thousand dollars–especially since you’re likely to sell your home for more with the help of an agent.

A real estate company that uses tech to buy and resell homes quickly is called an ‘iBuyer.’ If you decide to sell to one of these buyers, you may be able to get a quick cash offer without having to show your home to multiple buyers. However, bids may be lower from iBuyers, and there may not be many (or any) buyers in your area as this is still a relatively new industry.

As mentioned previously, if you are working with an agent, they will perform a comparative marketing analysis to determine a fair price for your home. If you are not working with an agent, you’ll have to do your research. Look into the stats to see what other homes have recently sold for you in your area. Compare your home with these recently sold homes, keeping an eye on square footage, year built, updates, and outdoor amenities.

Understanding Market Trends

Understanding the current market trends is crucial for selling your house effectively. This includes knowing how interest rates, local economy, and job market conditions can impact property values. For instance, in areas like Destin, Florida, the real estate market is influenced by factors such as interest rates and a strong local economy.

Navigating Financial Flexibility

Financial flexibility is essential when selling a house. With high mortgage rates and potentially declining property prices, some sellers may find themselves struggling to manage negatively cash-flowing properties. It's important to consider these financial implications and plan accordingly.

Working with Local Real Estate Agents

Working with a local real estate agent can significantly streamline the selling process. Agents have in-depth knowledge of the local market and can help you price your home competitively, handle showings and negotiations, and ensure all paperwork is completed correctly. This expertise can make a substantial difference in getting the best possible price for your home.

Before selling a house, you need to prepare it so it will make the best possible impression on prospective buyers. Here are some action items to put on your list.

Making sure your home is spotless is an important part of the pre-listing process. No matter how clean you feel you’ve kept your home over the years, you need to take it to the next level before showing it. Hiring professional cleaners specializing in pre-listing projects is usually the easiest and most effective way to ensure your home is up to the buyers’ standards.

Staging is also an important task. Staging involves moving or replacing furniture, removing clutter and personal items, and ensuring each room has a clear purpose. The goal of staging is to help each prospective buyer picture him or herself living in your home, prompting them to make an offer.

The first impression of your home will depend on the exterior. That’s why boosting curb appeal is vital before listing. Take time to remove any clutter, such as garden equipment, kids’ toys, or tools from the outdoor areas. Next, ensure your yard, trees, and bushes are trimmed and tidy. Consider putting out some potted flowers by the walkway to add a pop of color, a cheerful welcome mat, and possibly even painting the front door to make it memorable.

You won’t be able to get prospective buyers to your home if they don’t know it’s on the market. After you’ve created a listing, you need to market it through social media, in neighborhood groups, and throughout your work and friend network. If you work with an agent, he or she can add it to the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), create a marketing campaign, and promote it within his or her professional network.

Showing your home is another element of the selling a house process where working with an agent comes in very handy. If you work with an agent, he or she will arrange private showings with prospective buyers. If it makes sense, the agent may also decide to have an open house to get the home in front of as many buyers as possible.

If you don’t work with an agent, you must manage showings and open houses independently. Not only is this a large investment of time and energy, but it could also be emotionally taxing as you have likely developed many memories of your house, and hearing strangers’ opinions of it can take a toll.

Once your home is listed and shown to prospective buyers, you will hopefully have offers start rolling in. Remember that price is not the only thing to consider when reviewing offers. Contingencies based on financing, selling a home first, or inspections can easily make an offer less desirable. You also need to look at whether or not the buyer is pre-qualified for a loan, how quickly they can close, and the earnest money they are offering.

After you (or preferably you and your agent) have reviewed all offers, you will choose the most appealing offer and close the deal. Your agent will make all the arrangements for you, including working with the title company and presenting you with any documents you need to sign. Once this has been completed, a closing date will be set, and your work as a seller is complete!

The selling process will go much smoother from start to finish if you work with an experienced and trusted local agent. When you’re ready to take the next steps in selling a house, contact expert agent Brad Dahler for guidance.

View Santa Rosa Beach homes for sale.

_{*Header photo courtesy of Brad Dahler}