A Winning Game Plan for Selling Your Home

If you’re thinking about putting your Long Island home on the market, you’ll need a winning game plan to get you through the challenges of selling. This Seller’s Guide can help prepare you with tips and advice for a smooth and timely real estate transaction.

Deciding to sell your home is a big step, but luckily you’re not alone. Feel free to contact Long Island realtor Richard Walsh with questions, or to list and sell your house.

Ready, Set…Sell!

So you’ve decided to sell. You may be tempted to stick a “for sale” sign in your front yard and hope for the best, but that leaves you handling a mountain of paperwork, listings, showings and even possible bidding wars by yourself. Working with an experienced Long Island realtor who knows the real estate market and processes will make your sale go smoother, and will take a lot of pressure off of you.

Think about timing before you get started – a slow real estate market won’t last, and waiting until a better time may get you a better selling price. Start getting your house into tip top shape in the meanwhile, as a first impression is incredibly important. You want potential buyers to see your house for what it is and what it has the potential to be, not to be distracted by missing doorknobs, uncut grass and clutter.

Work With a Professional Realtor

Finding the right realtor will make the process of selling your house much easier on you. Working with a licensed real estate agent will take ease the pressure of scheduling appointments, and your agent can filter out casual shoppers, bringing you only serious buyers. In addition, your real estate agent is a master negotiator who will work in your best interests to get you a fair and appropriate price, not to mention handle the lengthy paperwork for you!

Ask friends and family for recommendations on a Long Island real estate agent, and feel free to meet with multiple agents before deciding who you want to list your home with. Just because an agent wants to list your house for a higher price doesn’t make him or her the best choice. Choose someone straightforward and honest who you feel comfortable with.

Make Sure the Price is Right

As a seller, you want to make as much money as possible on the sale of your home. Your goal is to get the best price and terms possible for your house. Be realistic however, and keep in mind that in addition to the condition of your home, interest rates, real estate market conditions and the overall economy can affect your price.

An experienced real estate agent can help you determine what your house is worth and what the current real estate market will bear. He will compare your home to other homes in your area that sold recently to see what a reasonable asking price will be. Once you’ve listed, be honest about how many showings your house has had and what comparable houses are going for – you may need to adjust pricing.

Promote Your Home

Part of selling a house is marketing. You can promote your house listing online, send out announcement postcards, hold open houses and run ads in local Long Island newspapers. Licensed real estate agents are also experienced marketers, so your realtor can help you get the word out about your new listing.

With your realtor advertising the sale, what can you do to help? Keep your house squeaky clean for open houses, and make sure pets are restrained while people are visiting. Be flexible with your showing times and be active on social media – you never know who on your friends list is looking to buy in your area.

Get It Sold!

Once your house is in tip top shape and promoted, you’ll likely start to see offers. Your realtor will help you sift through offers, from asking price (or even above) down to rock bottom. You’ll determine which offers to consider and which are unacceptable. Consider the amount of interest you’ve had, and if you’re likely to receive another offer anytime soon before turning any down. You can always make a counter offer, and leave it up to the potential buyer to accept or decline.

Seal the Deal: The Closing

Accepting an offer on your house is just the first step. Even though the sales agreement has been signed, there are a series of terms and conditions attached which must be fulfilled. Once your buyer has secured a mortgage, your house has been inspected, and any other conditions have been met, it’s time to sit down at the closing table.

A closing often occurs within 30-45 days after the agreement has been signed, but the time frame can vary. Get your pen ready, because you’ll have a mountain of paperwork to sign before the money and documents change hands.

Get Moving

Congratulations, you’ve sold your Long Island home! Start packing (if you haven’t already), and decide whether you’ll be moving on your own or hiring professional movers. Don’t be afraid to ask for referrals on moving companies, or to look them up online for reviews and credentials.

Now that you know the basics, are you ready to begin the process of selling your Long Island home?

Contact Richard Walsh today!