By: Kelly GIbbs
People across the country and throughout Cincinnati buy and sell homes every day, moving is a common life event and reasons for doing so will vary. Maybe you are ready for more space? Less space? Different school district? Bigger backyard? Moving to a new city? There could be a million reasons for the need or want to move. Before you dive into the process the most important question to ask yourself is, are you sure you are really ready to sell? This may not be a realization you make overnight; it can take weeks or months to come up with an answer to that question. Take your time, this is NOT a decision that should be made on impulse.
A few more things to contemplate while you think things over…
*Do you have positive equity in your home? ✅
*Will your living situation and quality of life improve if you move? ✅
*Are you prepared to take some of the emotion out of the process and also view this as a business transaction? ✅
If you have come to the conclusion that the answer is Yes, then keep reading! 👇
First things first, you need to figure out how much your home is worth in the current market. Raise your hand if you are guilty of checking your “zestimate” (I’m over here with my hand over my eyes but I promise not to judge!) However, if you’re thinking of selling your home, please, please, please don’t rely on this online number that was generated by computers to tell you how much your home is worth. If I had to guess I would say that Zillow hasn’t been inside your house. Am I right? Which means they have no idea what condition it’s in, what updates you’ve done, or the age of any of your mechanicals. So there is a chance, a really good chance, that the number popping up on the screen isn’t going to be accurate.
If you want to find out an accurate price for what your home could sell for, set up a consultation with a local Real Estate Agent who can tour your home, learn about it and provide you with a real market analysis that takes into consideration homes that are actually comparable to yours when determining an accurate list price and potential sale price to expect. Your agent will also give you advice on what needs to be done to get the house ready for buyers and to net you top dollar. This may include catching up on home maintenance, painting, staging, repairs, landscaping, etc. What you should not focus on is renovating the kitchen or bathrooms. Work with what you have and price it accordingly. This is not the time to take on huge remodeling projects.
Selling your home can feel really overwhelming and the to do lists, never ending! With the right professional by your side, it doesn’t have to be. Want to learn what else you should do if you are considering selling? I put this guide together with YOU in mind to help you prioritize what to focus on! I help homeowners set themselves up for a successful home sale by educating them on how to prepare their home for the market, including these 10 “must do” items! No matter when you decide to put your house up for sale, working with a full-time Realtor will help the process go a lot smoother, and help you get your home sold faster and for more money! I would love to set up a time to connect, don't hesitate to reach out!
Kelly Gibbs, 513-290-6216, kelly@kscincy.com