Real Estate
Entering the real estate market is a daunting task even for the experienced. Once you have decided that it’s time to sell your house in Stockton, there are a number of things that you can do to get your house ready. These tips will help you not only get your house ready to sell, but also get you ready to move and help ensure you can sell the house in a timely manner for the price you are hoping for.
Preparing
1. Research Your Local Market
Looking at the nation’s real estate market is not going to give you a good idea of what a real estate transaction will look like for you. Everyone knows that when national averages roll in on income, housing prices, etc., California’s numbers will always be higher than average. The national average does not accurately represent our state. So why do we think it would represent our real estate market? Make sure you do research on the state of our current, local real estate market. The state of the local market can change your mind on whether or not this is the right time to sell your house in Stockton.
2. Spruce Up The Front Porch
Your front door is not only the first thing people see when walking to your home. They will likely be spending a few minutes there. When you list your home, your agent will put a lockbox with keys near your front door. Those are not always easy to open. So as the buyer’s agent is fumbling with the lockbox, the buyers are taking in every detail. Make sure to make it worth looking at! Give your yard a thorough clean, trim, and spruce! Take out dead plants, add new ones, add more bark, mulch, or rocks to your planters. Give your front door a fresh coat of paint and make sure there are no hiding cobwebs. These small changes can have a big impact on how buyers feel about your home.
3. Declutter and Depersonalize
If you will be living in your house while trying to sell it, you will want to make it as much of a blank slate as possible. You want to clear your house of as much clutter as possible and remove personal objects. This can start with removing family pictures, or turning them around in their frames. Clear off any unnecessary items from counters and shelves. Don’t shove everything into a spare cabinet or closet! Buyers can be nosey and you don’t want all of your extra stuff to come falling down on them while they are touring your house!
4. Highlight Key Features
Each house is beautiful in its own way. There are certain features about your house that will make it stand out from others on the market that may be similar. Take some time to walk your house before listing, and make sure those places in your house stand out! Give them an extra clean, give them the right accents, and make sure they are well lit so they don’t get hidden in the shadows.
Pricing
5. Price Competitively
While you want to sell your house fast in Stockton, you also probably have a dollar amount in mind you are looking to make. Pricing will be a key factor in both. While looking at the market, you probably got a decent approximation of what your home could go for. When you talk with a professional, they will look at your home and the Stockton market and give you a recommended price. You want that price to stir up multiple buyers, and stand out from similar homes in your area. Make sure to keep your ultimate goals in mind in this pricing process!
6. Consider Pre-Listing Inspections
Having inspections done on your home can be a nerve-wracking experience. Problems you never knew about could come to light during this process. If you are already in escrow when these happen, meaning you already accepted an offer from a buyer, inspections could derail the deal. If you have inspections done before you list the home, you can know all of the problems ahead of time. This will allow you to set proper expectations for yourself, and price your home appropriately. This can also give you time to fix the problems to not deal with them during the sale.
Listing
7. Professional Photography
Before you hire anyone to help you sell your home, make sure they know how to do the job well! According to NAR, in 2022 96% of buyers use the internet during their home buying process. Going deeper, almost half of buyers start there. If you hire an agent who is not going to help you make your home stand out in a digital way, you may not get the return that you want or sell as quickly as you need. Phones have great cameras, but you want a pro to take care of your biggest investment.
8. Market Across Multiple Channels
Once you have amazing photos and other digital assets, you need to make sure people can see them! Scrapbooks hold so many memories but if they never come off of the shelf, they are a waste of space. Make sure that your house is being seen all around town and all over the internet. The right buyer is just waiting for the opportunity to see your house and jump at the opportunity to buy it. Make sure that the opportunity is given to them
9. Flexible Showing Schedule
Making your house available to potential buyers can be a huge hassle if you are still living in the house. However, it’s necessary to be as flexible as possible with showing your house so you don’t miss an opportunity. Prepare in advance to leave the house with little notice. Make sure you can leave a tidy house behind you. Whether it’s because you have a super efficient cleaning system, or you keep a tidy home at all times with little work, leave things clean. Also have a plan of what you are going to do while your home is being shown! Have a favorite park, food stop, or friends house that you can go to so you don’t interrupt a showing
Biggest Consideration
10. Work With A Professional
At the end of the day, the transaction that you want is the transaction that will serve your ultimate goal. You need to work with someone who truly understands how quickly you need your house sold, how much money you need from the sale, and all the accommodation you may need during the process. An agent should also give you realistic expectations about your sale. They may tell you that you need to make repairs to your house if you want it to sell at a certain price point. They may also say that you may not be able to sell as fast as you would like in the current market. But an honest professional is the best asset you can get.
There Are Always Simpler Options
Eric with ASDM Homes offers an easier alternative so sell your house fast in Stockton. Cash offers can help you sell your house quickly, for a fair price, without the need for repairs, inspections, or having a line of strangers walk through your house at a moment’s notice. Selling a house on the market can be a long and difficult process. Selling your house does not have to be.
If a cash offer is what’s right for you, Eric with ASDM Homes is here to help! We can give you a fair cash offer, help with all the legalities, and streamline the process to help get your home sold and cash fast! Contact Eric today to find out what you can get for your home and how quickly you can get that cash in hand!