We have all heard the term “starter home”. This is the house most first-time homebuyers purchase to introduce themselves to the world of homeownership.
However, as families grow, so does the desire for more space.
It is now time to sell your starter home and move on to bigger and better things – or houses.
What is the best way to successfully accomplish this? Here are our top tips for first-time home sellers:
Tip #1: Preparing for your new home
In order to sell your current home, you will have to have another one lined up to move into.
There are several ways to navigate this process. You could:
- Sell your house first and live in a short-term rental while shopping for your new home.
- Buy your new house first and sell your old one while living in your new home.
- Use your old house as a secondary source of income and rent it out until you are ready to sell.
Read more on our blog, Buying and Selling a Home at the Same Time: What You Need to Know.
Tip #2: Get your home ready for home buyers
Make sure that any upgrades/repairs/cleaning/staging you can get done to make your home move-in ready is taken care of as soon as possible.
- Look into having a pre-inspection done to see what repairs are needed on your home.
- Avoid these “home-hacks” that buyers will surely notice.
- Prepare your home according to the season you are selling during.
- A good deep cleaning is necessary in order to wow buyers! This would also be a perfect time to take personal photos off the walls and pack them away.
- If you are planning on moving out of the home before selling, it may also be a good idea to have it professionally staged.
Tip #3: Picking a great listing agent
After preparing your home to get put on the market and figuring out your next move after selling, the rest of the process is left to your listing agent. This is why you are going to need a dedicated and trustworthy Realtor to take over.
A good listing agent will:
- Take pictures of your property
- Put your listing on the market
- Schedule showings of your home
- Help you to review and negotiate the offers that come in
Read further to see what additional items make an exceptional listing agent.
