Selling a home is difficult enough. So is buying a home. But how do you manage both? For everyone that has bought a new home and tried to sell their previous property, they know how hard it can be. It’s paperwork galore and emotionally challenging, but one thing we’ve noticed is that homeowners tend to make the process more complicated for themselves. It doesn’t help your situation if you “decide” to sell your home and then start attending open houses before you’ve even begun the selling process.
Our advice is to sell your home first.
Why Should You Sell First?
The most obvious reason you should sell first is the financial risk. You don’t want to be stuck with paying 2 mortgages at the same time without knowing when you’ll actually sell your property. Plus, the added benefit is you’ll know how much money you’ll have to spend on buying a new home. You can easily make a down payment on your next home and won’t have to worry about interim financing.
Getting Your Home Ready to Sell
1. Deciding on Listing Price — Before you try to sell or buy a new home, you should talk with a real estate agent about how much your home is worth. Get a comparative market analysis and see what others homes are selling for in your area. Once you have an idea of what you can get, discuss with your agent what price you should list your home at.
2. Stage Your House — To sell your home more quickly, it’s advised you stage your home. Clean out the clutter, stuff all your junk into boxes (since you’ll be moving soon anyways), and clean the house thoroughly. It only takes 8 seconds for home buyers to get their first impression of your property, and if it isn’t good, your chances of selling go down dramatically.
3. Negotiate — As you’re going through the selling process, you should expect to go through negotiations when an offer is made. Talk with your agent and be prepared to make counteroffers if you don’t like the buyer’s bid. The most important thing is to be flexible and understanding. If you refuse to negotiate, sometimes you can lose an offer and not see another one for a while.
Selling Your Home
If you have any questions about selling your home or would like to know what your home is worth, fill out the free form below and we’ll be happy to discuss your property with you.