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20 Honest Facts about Blue Ridge Real Estate Home Selling

Wooden style kitchen area So you’ve been thinking “it’s time to sell my home in Blue Ridge.” You’re outgrowing your property, or maybe you’re looking to move for a new career path. You’ve checked the market, done your preliminary research, and have started shopping for a new place to live. Selling your current home could seem like a complicated, stressful experience, but with the right financial, structural, and emotional preparations, and help from sellers agent in Blue Ridge, you’ll have a streamlined selling experience. Once you’ve partnered with trusted Blue Ridge real estate agents in your area, here’s what you need to know to have a positive, stress-free sale.

  1. List your home for an attractive price.
  2. Your Realtor will help you with this, but your home should be priced so that it is attractive to buyers. Remember that you want to get the attention of the best buyers, people who are qualified to purchase your home and will quickly act on their attachment to it. If a home is overpriced, it will likely sit on the market for an extended period of time, and buyers will be curious as to why others passed it over. Ideally, you’ll have multiple buyers show interest in placing an offer on your home, which will drive up the final sale price.

  3. Always present your home at its best.
  4. It takes time and effort (and a bit of well-spent money) to prepare your home for potential buyers. Over-staging isn’t necessary, but a clean home that invites a new family to envision themselves there is ideal. If you’re posting a video tour or virtual scan of your house, you’ll also want to ensure all the rooms are organized and tidy.

  5. Be prepared for a challenge.
  6. You probably already know that you’re up for a challenge, and your sellers agent in Blue Ridge will help you along the way, but being aware that there will be ups and downs in the process will help you get over hurdles and other unplanned obstacles. Do your home selling research, work collaboratively with Blue Ridge real estate agent, and troubleshoot any unforeseen problems to make the home selling process go smoothly.

  7. Understand your local market and community.
  8. One of the most important factors when choosing a north Georgia real estate agent is making sure that person is an expert on local trends in the market for your community. They should have experience selling homes similar to yours, which will give them a better understanding of what potential buyers are wanting to see.

  9. Don’t go to your open house (or any other showings).
  10. It’s never a good idea for the homeowner to attend their own showings or walk-throughs. Aside from the fact that it can be stressful and potentially even emotional to watch someone critique your home, you also don’t want to over-share information or say something that devalues the property.

  11. Always repair what needs to be repaired.
  12. What’s easy is not always what is right. If repairs need to be completed, trust us and do finish them before you sell. Show buyers that your home is move-in ready, and that they will not need to make any repairs themselves before moving in. Repairs tend to work in a domino effect, and if you give the impression that you’re not taking care of the property, buyers will get the idea that they home hasn’t been well-kept in the past.

  13. Your too-familiar “home smell” is not your friend.
  14. We all know that “other people’s homes” have that specific smell… but your house doesn’t have a smell, right? Wrong. Just because you’ve gotten used to an odor, doesn’t mean it’s not there for others. Take the time to get carpets, furniture, and other fabrics cleaned properly to remove any lingering smells that could affect the buyer’s impression.

  15. Overpricing is only hurting you.
  16. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: your home’s price should be attractive and in-range for desired buyers. Your price should take location, features, age, and size into account, but overpricing your home will make it harder to sell and will catch the attention of a smaller portion of buyers.

  17. Be ready to negotiate… and to negotiate again.
  18. During your home’s inspection, you might be told that certain areas need to be repaired or changed. When buyers receive this information, they will often want to alter their offer because of the additional costs in making these repairs. Anticipate these changes and negotiations and be prepared for how to respond to them.

  19. Don’t assume a Cash Buyer is the best way to go.
  20. Cash sounds really great, but a financing buyer has his or her advantages too, especially when it comes to having pre-approval, strong purchase contracts, and being able to stick to schedules and planned deadlines in the purchasing process.

  21. Your curb appeal is worth the time and money.
  22. When it comes to your personal style, first impressions matter. The same rule applies to your home. Having a well-kept front yard with an inviting entrance for potential buyers will help give them a sense of reassurance that this home is a positive and welcoming place to be.

  23. You have to make communication a priority.
  24. After you’ve made the commitment to sell your home, it’s your responsibility to be reliable and to communicate. Be available to answer emails and calls, always being prompt with your responses.

  25. Do not lie. Ever.
  26. Every detail counts, and trying to hide defects or your home’s history from buyers (or Realtors) is the worst thing you can do. It’s not worth the potential law suit when you could have just been honest or solved the problem beforehand.

  27. Home buyers should be able to see themselves living there.
  28. While you do want to show buyers that your home was a great fit for your own family, you don’t want to have too many personal items on display. The reason for this is if you have too many things that are unique to your family, it will be harder for buyers to envision themselves living there.

  29. Detailed video tours and home photos can make a huge difference.
  30. Having photos of your home is great, but being able to post video tours or virtual scans is even better. Over 90% of potential buyers use the Internet to shop for homes, and you want to be able to give them as much information as possible about your house’s layout without actually having them stand on your property. Having video or detailed photos/scans will also show the buyer that you have nothing to hide, and that you’re proud to show off the space.

  31. Sometimes a little compromising creates a win-win situation.
  32. With any deal negotiation, you need to be ready to cooperate. A compromise can go a long way, and help smooth out the process of selling your home. Keep people happy, including yourself, and you’ll have much better results.

  33. Set a closing date that supports your own move-out schedule.
  34. Once your closing date is set, you have to be ready to move. The closing date is the day the buyer is handed the keys to your home, and you have to be completely moved out by that point.

  35. Be sure to attract (and vet) qualified buyers.
  36. Your Real Estate agent should be knowledgeable about your home’s “best fit” audience, especially if you have one of the area’s many Blue Ridge custom homes, and they should be vetted. Don’t get caught up in wasting time on buyers who aren’t able to afford the home, or who haven’t been pre-approved for a mortgage.

  37. Consider that new buyers could see your home in a different way.
  38. Financial and architectural preparation might be planned out ahead of time, but don’t forget the emotional preparation either. Anticipate that a buyer may want to completely change the layout of your home or repurpose certain areas. They might also remodel the visual aesthetics completely. This isn’t a personal dig at you, but a way for the buyer to make the home their own, which is always a good thing.

  39. Seriously, use a trusted Realtor who’s sold homes in your area.
  40. If you want a streamlined process for selling your home without surprise fees or extended timelines, your Realtor decision is the most important. Find someone with experience in your area, and at your home’s price range, who will be able to be the most effective resource for you.