Selling your home is often a stressful situation, but there are some things that you can do to lessen the stress and possibly get your home sold more quickly. You should work with your real estate agent, and not against him/her, to have the smoothest experience. Your agent has been through the process many more times than you, and has an impartial perspective, so listen to what he/she has to say. For example:
PREP YOUR HOME
You should get your home in order, physically and organizationally, before you secure an agent. Take care of little repair issues that people will notice right away. Get rid of the clutter in your home. People want to see the house, not your stuff, so make sure to create a neutral space that will showcase your home’s features.
BE FLEXIBLE
When it comes to showings, they do not always happen on your schedule…in fact, they usually happen when you’re least prepared. Things will go better if you are flexible. Have a plan about what to do when your agent calls and asks to show your home. Be ready to leave quickly. Make sure you also know what you will do with pets so they are not in the way or distracting when potential buyers come over.
BE QUICK TO RESPOND
You should respond as fast as possible to everything during the selling process (i.e. responding to offers, requests for showings, negotiations of terms, etc.). Delays can set you back, and hurt your credibility, thereby potentially causing you to lose the sale. So, respond right away to showing requests, and, when you get an offer, do not take too long to counter or make a decision.
BE REASONABLE ABOUT REPAIR REQUESTS
If there is something substantially wrong with the house, you can expect potential buyers to ask you to fix it. Have a plan in place about what you are, and are not, willing to repair. Be ready to counteroffer and negotiate about repairs. If you aren’t flexible or willing to play ball, potential buyers will walk away.