Selling Your Home

There is a lot of conflicting information out there as to whether you should do updates on your home before selling it. Most renovations won't bring enough of an increase in your sales price to justify doing major work to your home before selling it, but there are certain updates that do pay off, and many of them are ones that update your kitchen. Here are six affordable kitchen upgrades our real estate agents recommend doing before selling your home.

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Your home's appraisal is a big deal since what it appraises for can make or break the sale. It may seem like there's not a lot you can do aside from pricing your home fairly, but there may be more than you think. Here are a few suggestions from our real estate agents on how you can prepare your home for a successful appraisal.

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When it comes time to sell your home, your choice of real estate agent can make a huge impact on how successful your sale is, determining things like how long your house is on the market and what the final sales price is. Every seller wants to give their home the best possible chance, so our real estate agents recommend asking these questions before signing any agreement.

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The appraisal is technically not the seller's responsibility, so you may not be thinking about it at all as you get your house ready to sell. Typically the buyer has to schedule and pay for the appraisal as part of the loan requirements, so sellers tend not to consider whether they should prepare for it. To ensure your sale goes through, however, our real estate agents recommend that as a seller, you prepare for the appraisal as best as you can.

Fortunately, many of these things coincide with what you already should be doing to get your house ready to sell. Here are a few ways to make sure your home's appraisal is an accurate reflection of the house's market value.

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Pricing your home right is a difficult decision. Too high and it won't sell; too low and you could be missing out on money you could have had otherwise. Not to mention there is so much that comes down to how you present your house. Does it look like it's worth what you've priced it at?

If you're trying to ensure your home sells for the right price, here are a few things our real estate agents recommend doing.

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If you've been preparing for a move and want to take advantage of this seller's market, now may be your best opportunity. As we continue to experience an uptick in home prices and low inventory levels, here are five steps you can take to prepare to sell your family's home.

1. HIRE AN AGENT WHO KNOWS THE MARKET

An experienced agent exposes your home to the broadest audience and negotiates on your behalf to garner the best offers possible. If you go it alone, you'll have to personally manage prepping your home, marketing it, reviewing buyers' offers, and handling all the negotiations and closing details.

2. SET A TIMELINE FOR SELLING YOUR HOME

Selling a house is a significant undertaking that can take two to four months from start to finish, depending on local market conditions and the level of inventory available. As soon as you decide to sell, start researching agents to find someone with the right experience for your situation. Then, about a month before listing your home, work on staging and deep cleaning in preparation for photos.

3. GET A PRE-SALE HOME INSPECTION 

Before listing your home for sale, a detailed inspection report can identify any structural or mechanical problems. It may cost a few hundred dollars, but it will alert you in advance of issues buyers will likely flag when they do their inspection later. By being a few steps ahead, you might be able to speed up the process.

4. DON'T WASTE MONEY ON NEEDLESS UPGRADES

If you're going to spend money on costly upgrades, make sure your changes have a high return on investment. Improvements may not be necessary to sell your home for top dollar, especially if inventory levels are low in your area.

5. GET PROFESSIONAL PHOTOS

Work with your agent to schedule a photographer to capture photos of your home. High-quality images are critical since maximizing your home's online appeal can make all the difference. Most of us have heard of curb appeal, but online appeal is even more critical. Remember, your home's first showing is online. 

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It's often stressful to put your family's home on the market, but it may be less so with the right plan and professionals on your side. If you're interested in connecting with a Cressy & Everett real estate agent for a free, professional home value review based on your property's unique characteristics, please call us at (574) 233-6141.

Everyone wants their home sale to go smoothly, but sometimes that's easier said than done. Our real estate agents have put together five important tips for how you can sail past the rough patches and ensure everything goes well on your end.

• Make Yourself Scarce During Tours
  Prospective buyers want to be able to imagine themselves living in your home, so it's important to remove as much of you from the premises as possible. This means more than just leaving during tours of your home, however. It also means getting the pets out of the house, so that agents and their clients don't have to worry about not letting a cat or dog outside that's not supposed to get out, or worse, being ambushed by an unfriendly animal who doesn't understand why there are strangers in the house. And even before that, you'll need to wipe yourself from the clutter and decor. Staging the house means decorating it in a welcoming but fairly impersonal fashion, so that prospective buyers are free to imagine themselves living there.

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Our real estate agents have seen many home trends come and go, but one thing that's always high up on buyers' lists when they're looking at South Bend homes for sale is getting as much square footage as their budget allows. There are lots of reasons buyers are looking for all that extra space, so make sure to highlight all your home has to offer.

• More space for family. One of the biggest reasons people decide to start looking for a house in the first place is because their family is growing. New babies, growing children, and blended families all can mean a need for more space.

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Our real estate agents are hard at work helping clients like you across our South Bend community. It's an unusual time in real estate, but important for prospective sellers to know buyers and sellers are jumping back into the market!

Now is a terrific time for South Bend homes for sale to get listed.

With mortgage rates reaching historic lows – no exaggeration – buyers are revisiting their plans. Many buyers who were waiting for a more favorable market are now on board. But that doesn't mean South Bend home prices are plummeting.

On the contrary, South Bend home prices are standing strong and in many cases, even rising. But buyers are attracted to the potential to get a great deal on a home financing package. That makes them more likely to aggressively seek out a home they truly love. That alone is a great reason to get excited about selling in South Bend.

But, yes, there are even more advantages to selling your home right now. Here's what you need to know.

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If you're preparing to put your house on the market among other St. Joseph homes for sale, you know the kitchen is a vital part of daily living. From preparing meals, entertaining, or helping with homework, your kitchen sees a lot of traffic. If your kitchen cabinets desperately need a makeover, but your budget is tight, renovate to provide an instant lift.  

Easy Ways to Renovate Your Outdated Kitchen

Every homeowner has a personal vision for every room in the house. New kitchen cabinets, upgraded appliances, and a complete makeover can cost thousands of dollars. When you cannot afford your dream kitchen, implement easy, low-cost changes to refresh and upgrade the area. Small changes can make a significant impact on your kitchen's overall appearance.

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