Even though we’re still in the midst of winter, it’s not too early to start thinking about the spring selling market. If you are planning to sell your home in the spring, a traditionally popular time for real estate sales, it’s actually a great idea to get started on your preparations now so you are ready when the time comes to put your home on the market.
Here are some important questions to ask before you list your home for sale:
Will you buy or sell first? Generally speaking, under most market conditions, real estate professionals advise listing your present home and shopping for your new home simultaneously. If you have very specific criteria – like location, size, views, age, etc. which could lead to a time-consuming home search – you should consider finding and buying a home first before you sell your existing home.
Is your home ready to go on the market? Once you put your house up for sale, you want it to be as appealing as possible to buyers. Take time now to make necessary repairs, remove clutter and decide how to highlight your home’s best features.
What is a reasonable price to expect? Knowing the expected price you can ask for your home is an essential piece in determining the next home you purchase. Formulating the listing price of a home is a sophisticated process. The location, property size/features, style, age, physical condition, special features and recent enhancements must all be considered in assessing your home’s value.