Thinking about selling your home in Los Altos but not sure where to begin? Or how to showcase your house to get the highest price possible?
As a homeowner who is looking to sell their home, there are several steps to navigate, from when you decide to sell to when the house is sold and you are handing over the keys.
You aren’t alone! This helpful guide will provide a plan for selling your home with less stress and in record time.
Find a good real estate agent
The easiest way to reduce stress around selling your home is to work with an experienced real estate agent who knows Los Altos well.
An agent can help you from start to finish, making sure that at each step in the home selling process you have all the correct documentation, and answering questions along the way. When you are selling a high-priced asset, like your home, it isn’t the time to try and save by not enlisting an agent’s help.
A real estate agent will be a valuable resource who can explain the market, how best to show your home, and get the most value for it when it’s time to sell.
Consider getting a pre-sale home inspection
Although not required, it is worth getting a pre-sale home inspection before you list your home to sell.
Investing in a pre-sale inspection might be worth it so you can find any major issues with the house before you sell it. That way you have the time to make repairs, especially if there is significant damage to the structure of your home.
Paying a small fee for an inspection can save you thousands down the road, as a buyer will inevitably want you to fix those issues or negotiate down on the price.
Being proactive and getting an inspection early in the process will reduce roadblocks and headaches later on.
Invest in minor upgrades
Once you have reviewed the pre-inspection report, fix anything that is major or related to the structure of the house.
After that, don’t worry about doing major renovations unless your real estate agent thinks you will see a return on your money for it.
Too often homeowners want to do major upgrades to get the highest selling price. But what you value isn’t always what a buyer will value no matter how nice it is.
The areas that can boost your purchase price the most are minor upgrades to the kitchen, bathrooms, and front yard.
A fresh coat of paint, new carpet or flooring such as luxury vinyl planks, and new hardware on kitchen and bathroom cabinets can do wonders.
Clean and declutter your home
The first thing someone notices before they even enter your house? Your front yard or the curb appeal. Hire a gardener to trim the grass and trees, pull weeds, and add flowers for touches of color.
Inside your home, complete a deep clean of every room and declutter as much as possible. That includes removing excess furniture, decorations, and personal photos that take away from the home itself.
If there is too much clutter, it will be distracting for any potential home buyer to envision themselves living there.
Set a realistic price for your home
You have made some minor upgrades, cleaned it, and had professional photos taken of your home. It’s now time to list your home!
Setting a realistic price will determine how fast you can sell it and for how much. Too often, homeowners want to list their homes at a much higher price than the comparables.
This is a mistake you can avoid by letting your agent guide you to the best price that won’t turn off potential buyers. You might think to list at a high price and come down as needed. But in reality, this will make buyers wonder what is wrong with the house if the price drops, delaying your chance to sell.
Avoid being present at showings
As much as you might want to be present during showings of your home, refrain from doing so.
Prospective buyers will feel uncomfortable viewing each room and commenting on it in front of the homeowner. Do yourself a favor and be out of the house during showings to increase the odds of your house selling.
Review and negotiate offers you receive
Now that you have received several offers on your home, it’s time to review each of them to determine if you will accept or reject the offer.
They are several factors to consider when accepting an offer other than just the price that your real estate agent can assist you with. Once you have your top offers, make a counteroffer if necessary before finalizing your choice.
Work with an experienced Los Altos real estate agent
