Thinking about selling your home?
Once you decide to sell your home, you might have questions about how to prepare it for listing on the MLS and viewing by potential buyers. A Contra Costa REALTOR® can guide you through this process. Here are some common things to consider when preparing your home for sale:
How do I find the right agent to sell my home?
You should feel empowered to find and work with the agent who is the best fit for your needs. When you work with an agent who is a REALTOR®, you are working with a professional guided by ethical duties under the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, including the pledge to protect and promote the interests of their clients.
Do I need to have my home inspected before putting it up for sale?
No, a pre-sale inspection is not required. However, an inspection can be used to identify potential issues in your home that you can consider repairing before showing your home and use as a differentiator for your property. Sometimes buyers may also conduct their own inspection as a contingency in their purchase agreement. If you uncover possible issues that may appear during a buyer’s inspection, you will have time to make any necessary changes that could impact your home’s asking price. You should also talk to your REALTOR® about disclosure requirements.
What should I do if something in my home needs to be fixed or replaced soon?
If something in your home requires a significant repair—such as a roof, a system such as HVAC, or an appliance like a dishwasher or washer / dryer—you should determine how much the repair will cost, even if you do not plan to fix it before selling the home. These estimates will help sellers determine the costs that buyers might take into consideration when negotiating a purchase agreement.
Am I required to make any cosmetic updates to my home before putting it up for sale?
No, but you may want to clean the windows, carpets, lighting fixtures, and walls, and store away clutter before showing your home to potential buyers. Sellers may also look for ways to improve “curb appeal”—how the home looks to a potential buyer when viewed from the street—by updating aspects such as landscaping, the front entrance, and paint jobs. These steps may help improve the home’s appearance in photos, which can play an important role in attracting potential buyers.
Do I need to provide information about appliances that will stay in the home after it’s sold?
You should locate warranties, guarantees, and user manuals for the furnace, washer / dryer, dishwasher, and any other appliances or systems that will stay in the house with a new buyer. It is recommended that you find these items now to avoid any lost paperwork causing an issue with a potential buyer when you reach the time of finalizing, or “closing,” the transaction.
What does it mean to stage my home?
Staging is the process of cleaning a home and temporarily filling it with furniture and decorations that may help buyers better see themselves living in the home. While it is not required, some sellers may work with a stager to focus on certain key areas of their home that are important to buyers. Some agents may also include staging in the services they provide you.
Get more real estate facts: www.nar.realtor/the-facts
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