What are the Most Important Steps before selling your house?
It is the question that most clients fail to ask, however, it is perhaps the most important. What are the most important steps that I should take as a seller in order to be prepared to sell my home?
Commit: Decide if you are a seller or an owner. What? Yes, there is a big difference between being a seller and being an owner. As I wrote in a previous blog about the state of real estate in Escazu and Santa Ana, we are in a buyer's market right now. When you think about selling your house, if the first thought that comes to your mind includes the phrase, " I don't need to sell, but I would sell if...." Or, we are extremely happy and really don't want to sell, but if the right person comes along to pay what we want..." If we were playing $100,000 pyramid, these would fall into the category of "Things an Owner would Say". Real Estate, like anything else, is a matter of supply and demand. Properties, no different than cars, clothes, rings, or a bottle of water, are worth what the market is willing to pay. So, the critical step in preparing to sell is to understand the market that you are in. Allow your broker to educate you about the likely market price for your property, and then make a decision about selling. If you are in agreement with the pricing, and are willing to sell, then Commit to selling. That is the critical first step any seller should take. Likewise, if you are not willing to accept the price in today's market, that is too, a respectable position that your broker should understand. If that is the case, do not try to challenge the market, or hope that a buyer will ignore the market realities and overpay. Decide whether waiting for a better market is best for you, and move on. Your broker will be there to service you in the future. Just be sure to ask your broker/agent what their outlook is for the future so that you can decide whether today's outlook may just be better than the one you thought you should wait for.