How to sell your house: tips for a smooth sale

Our data shows that the top 5% of agents across the U.S. sell homes for as much as 10% more than the average real estate agent. HomeLight’s free Agent Match tool is a great place to start for getting your house sold regardless of the current housing conditions. HomeLight’s platform can connect you with a top-performing real estate agent in your market with a proven track record for better results. A typical real estate commission is 5% to 6%, which could mean about $10,000 to $12,000 on a $200,000 home if the sale involves both the seller’s and buyer’s agents. If you have to pay a buyer’s agent, that amount could be cut in half or close to it, because the seller’s agent and buyer’s agent usually split the commission total at closing.

VisitHomeLight’s 2022 Housing Trends Hubfor information on how to navigate a shifting market — whether you’re a seller, buyer, or homeowner. Jennifer Schmidt is a freelance writer based in Vancouver, Washington, who specializes in real estate, human resources, and technology. When not writing, you’ll find her scanning real estate listings for the latest housing trends and decorating ideas. That’s why having a home inspection completed before listing your house is one of the best tips for selling your home.

They will help you set a fair and competitive selling price for your home, increasing your odds of a quick sale. Sole selling rights – this type of contract means that the estate agent is the only one able to sell a house during the period set out in the agreement. This means that even if you find a buyer yourself, you will still have to pay commission fees to the estate agent. If you engage another estate agent during the period stipulated and find a buyer through them, you may find you are liable for dual fees where both agents require payment. Ask the estate agent for evidence to support their valuation; for example, similar properties they have recently sold. A high valuation does not necessarily mean you will secure this price.

Other concerns and ideas may come up as you prepare your home for sale. In HomeLight’s Top Agent Insights Report for Q1 2020, 98% of top agents said that buyers gravitate to neutral color schemes. Once everything is spic and span, light it up so buyers can see.

Partner with a top real estate agent

This means your home is worth less than the amount you owe your mortgage provider, and so you may not want to sell your home as you will still be liable for the outstanding balance. When you know how much money you are likely to release from selling your property, you can budget for your next move. It is important to do this early on so that the final exchange of contracts is not delayed. It is therefore very important you know how much your property is likely to be worth so you can compare it to the outstanding balance on your mortgage and the other costs of moving. When you sell your home, you will need enough money to pay off the remainder of your mortgage, if you have one. You should speak with your lender or broker to find out how much you owe, including any possible penalties for early repayment.

We operate across the United Kingdom chosenflatfee England, Scotland, and Wales. We can buy your house fast, whether you’re in the northernmost parts of Scotland or enjoying life on the beaches on the south coast. As the UK’s largest sell house fast company, we are proud to go that little bit extra for our customers.

This article is meant for informational purposes only and is not intended to be construed as financial, tax, legal, real estate, insurance, or investment advice. Opendoor always encourages you to reach out to an advisor regarding your own situation. A FSBO seller will be able to list on the MLS through a service by paying a flat fee. More than 95% of buyers search for a home on the internet and half of them (51%) purchase a home they find online, so good photos are critical. That’s why you want to rely on professional listing photos. They’ll use a wide-angle lens and a tripod for best results.

If the weather is nice, open a few windows; if not, light a fireplace or turn the heater up a bit. These extra little steps will make your home seem inviting and calm. Staking a "For Sale By Owner" sign in your yard is good if you live in a high-traffic neighborhood, but you can go further.Advertise online. Take out classified ads in your local newspaper and ask if they'll be available on a website as well.

What to Do If You Don’t Use a Real Estate Agent

You should speak to your estate agent and discuss the feedback they have collected from previous viewings. Ask a friend to do a mock viewing and be honest about the areas for improvement. Remember that at this point, neither party is under any legal obligation to the sale. Only when you exchange the signed contracts with your buyer is it legally binding. It is extremely rare for legal representative to change their bank account.

But if there’s no objection or something that’s going to divert their attention, then they’re not nitpicking on the home, they’re going, oh, I could really envision my furniture here,” says Slobounov. To increase your chances of a sale at the best price, it’s always important to keep the yard trimmed and pruned. But to really make the yard complement the home, adding pops of color using flowers or plants that are bright and cheery will help promote a positive impression. Amateur photos that are dark or blurry are uninviting and won’t inspire your buyers to swipe right.