Whether you are thinking of selling your home next month or next year, if you want to get the best price for your home with the least amount of stress, it’s going to take some time and planning. Save yourself time and money by keeping in mind these 6 steps to selling a house.

Step 1: Hire a Realtor. Selling a home is a complicated process; you need the expertise of a real estate professional on your side. A Realtor will discuss your ideal time frame for selling your home, pricing strategies, tips to prepare for the market, as well as the net profit needed from the sale.  Find a professional who communicates extremely well, is genuinely concerned about your needs, and has a marketing plan to expose your home to as many potential buyers as possible. Hiring an experienced real estate agent will help protect you and your best interests, and your potential equity in the sale of your home. 

Step 2: Set the asking price.  A Comparable Sales Analysis Comparable (CMA) will be run on your home by your Realtor, which takes into account upgrades to your home, current market trends, and recent sales of similar homes in the same market area.  This detailed CMA will help determine the right listing price for your home. Setting the correct asking price from the start helps lower the risk of price lowering or your property staying on the market too long.

Step 3: Stage the home to sell.  Homes that are staged sell faster and for more money than homes that are not. Keep in mind there is only one chance to make a good first impression on potential buyers.  Your Realtor can advise you on what improvements should or should not be made prior to listing your home. We can also refer you to a professional home staging company.

Step 4: Negotiate an offer.  Your Realtor will help you negotiate the best sale price and terms for your home. This includes items such as price, occupancy, inspections, etc. Eric Lowry has over 16 years experience negotiating home sales in the Cincinnati area, and his listings sell for around 1% more than the market average – that could mean thousands of dollars more in your pocket. Make sure you hire an expert negotiator to represent you.

Step 5: Plan your move.  The Lowry Team has an preferred vendor list to help you plan your move, and can refer you to an excellent moving company. Make sure to stock up on boxes and bubble wrap!

Step 6: Meet at the closing table. The sellers, buyers and their agents will meet with the title company representative to sign all of the papers and close on the house.  All the paperwork can seem a bit overwhelming, so don’t hesitate to ask questions at any point. At closing you will receive the proceeds from the sale of your house and, in most cases, hand over the keys.

Your local Realtor is the best source of information about the community and local real estate market. Call or Text Eric Lowry and The Lowry Team today at 513-368-3751 to learn more.

Questions about selling your house? Call or text Eric Lowry at 513-368-3751.