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February 13th, 2023 by

There's a lot that goes into selling your first home. Here's how you can get started.

Selling your first home can seem intimidating. You've been through the process before, but not as a seller, and it may have been a while. Here are some tips from our real estate agents to make the process a little easier.

  • Find an Agent
    If you're feeling intimidated by the thought of selling your home or don't know where to start, find an agent sooner rather than later. Ideally, your agent should be experienced in your neighborhood and able to act as a guide and an adviser throughout the sales process. Be sure to ask friends and neighbors for recommendations and meet with several agents before making your choice.

  • Decide When You'll Sell
    This is a great example of why finding an agent early on is so important. An agent who is experienced in your neighborhood will know when the local market historically starts to heat up and cool down. If you have some flexibility with your timing, waiting until spring or summer may bring more money and a faster sale, not to mention give you a little time now for repairs and improvements. Your agent can also advise you on what you need to do to get ready to sell so that when the time comes, you're ready to go.

  • Set a Price
    Setting a competitive price for your home requires experience with the neighborhood, a good feel for the market, and plenty of research. Your agent will provide you with comps of South Bend homes for sale and recently sold in your area to help determine a good price for yours. Based on those comps, you can also discuss what improvements are worth doing on the home.

  • Repair and Update
    Once you've been over-pricing with your agent and determined what updates are worth doing, it's time to get started on that work. Minor repairs that have been put off should always be done before listing to avoid making your home look like a fixer-upper, so you can get started on those at any time, even if you haven't found an agent yet. Updates are trickier since not all updates are worth the time and cost. However, a few simple updates, such as modern lighting fixtures, a fresh coat of neutral-toned paint, and new cabinet hardware can make a big difference in how your home shows.

  • Clean and Stage
    As the time to list your home gets closer and the repairs and updates are completed, start thinking about putting the finishing touches on the home. Give it a deep clean, making sure to clean areas you wouldn't normally think about. If you're still living in the home, start decluttering and putting things in storage so that you can stage the home at its best with a neutral decor that will appeal to buyers. If the house will be empty, consider hiring a company to stage it for you. Your agent may have a few recommendations.

  • Know Your Costs
    It's important as you go into the sales process to know what your costs will be in the end. This means knowing not only your real estate agent's cut but also planning for the cost of repairs and updates, the cost of maintaining the home until it sells, and the closing costs you'll be responsible for. You may also want to speak to your current lender and find out how much is still owed on the mortgage.

There's a lot involved in a successful home sale, but fortunately, you don't have to do it all alone. Contact us today to discuss the process of selling your first home.

Categories: Selling Your Home
Tags: Cressy & Everett, South Bend IN, Selling Your Home, For Sellers, Home-selling tips
Related Markets: South Bend

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