From Deciding to Sell to Sold

I have the pleasure of speaking to the residents at Wesley Woods of Newnan this week regarding the listing process. I thought I would share a condensed version here. My presentation was entitled "From Deciding to Sell to Sold."

The first step in deciding to sell is to think about where you are in life. Maybe you own your first home, and you need a bigger house for a growing family. Maybe you have a large home, and your children are grown. It may be time to downsize and purchase a smaller house. Wherever you are in life, it is important to really think about what you need moving forward. Often, though, sellers don't have a choice in selling, as they may be moving for a job, due to a foreclosure, or divorce, or even death.

What is the local market like where your property is located? Is it a buyer's market or a seller's market? Maybe it is not the right time to sell. In a seller's market, you can expect numerous showings and perhaps multiple offers. In a buyer's market, it could be difficult to generate an offer on your house, at least one close to the price you want. The type of market where you live will factor in the value of your home.

Pricing your home is extremely important. Considering comparable sales, or "comps," is essential in determining the value of your property. You want to think like an appraiser and use homes that are of similar style and age, with similar finishes, close in proximity to your own home. A 4,000 square foot two story home does not compare to a 1,600 square foot ranch.

Once you are ready to list, try to think like a prospective buyer when preparing your home for the market. What would you like to see when viewing a home to purchase? Is there any deferred maintenance that you need to take care of as homeowner? Any touch ups like fresh paint? How does your flooring look? Fresh paint, landscaping and pressure washing are all good returns on your investment as a seller. To obtain top dollar, make sure your home is in excellent condition when it hits the market for sale.

Hopefully, this gives you a little insight into the process of deciding to sell your home, timing, pricing and preparing the property for the market. An experienced Realtor can consult with you and guide you every step of the way.