Posts from August 2019

Selling a home can involve a flurry of varied emotions and lots of moving pieces. No matter how you're feeling, you've got to move forward with a plan, and that's why I'm here to help. Here are my top 10 tips for buying a home. 

1. Decide Why You're Selling 

Think about why you want to sell your home in the first place. Some of the most common reasons include:

• Your current home is too small.
• Your current home is too large and more than you want to continue to care for.
• Your neighborhood isn't what you thought it would be.
• You've been offered a job in another state.

Knowing why you're selling your home can help keep you motivated to do everything you can to move your property. It can also help us determine your ideal timeline. 

2. Hire a Realtor

Work with someone who's familiar with Roanoke real estate — the different areas and the market — so you have a professional on your side who knows what steps to take to make your property appealing and most valuable to potential buyers. As a lifelong resident of the valley, I can educate you about neighborhoods, schools and amenities.

3. Determine the Best Time To Sell

Watch your neighborhood to see how quickly property is selling and talk with your Realtor about the market. Real estate sells at all times of the year, so my advice: Sell when it's the best time for you and your life. That said, if you've had that lingering thought in your mind for a while, and you see that houses in your neighborhood are going fast, you should call me. 

4. Take Care of Home Improvements 

Making things as easy as possible for potential buyers is key. Take care of minor home improvements, such as painting, pressure washing, replacing door knobs and drawer pulls, adding new appliances and other small upgrades. When we talk about your selling strategy, we'll talk more about the larger improvements that could help you fetch more at closing. 

5. Stage Your House 

Potential buyers not only need to like what they see when they visit your home, but they also need to be able to see themselves living there. That means you want to stage your property so that there's no clutter or personal items. Your two directives: Remove and depersonalize. Then, make a family plan to keep your home in shape for a viewing at any time. (This also means having a plan for removing pets and any evidence of them when buyers come calling. We love our animals around here, but a potential buyer likely doesn't want to meet your cat or smell the litter box.) 

6. Focus on Competitive Pricing 

Part of your selling strategy will be determining a list price. We won't pull it out of the air or off an online valuation tool. I'll conduct some research about comparable homes in your area. We'll consider those along with the current market and your financial needs. Once your home is on the market, we'll continue to reassess and make adjustments as needed to meet your time goals. 

7. Design a Marketing Plan

It's easier than ever to get the word out about a home on the market, but we want to do it the right way and in the right places. I use digital advertising, social media, my website and more to get homes in front of prospective buyers. You can waste a lot of money and get very little result without a clear idea of your potential market. [See my blog post on the services I provide sellers for more on marketing.]

8. Make Yourself Aware of Potential Closing Issues 

Head a closing disaster off at the pass when possible. Your buyer's financing could fall through, you could receive bad news on your home inspection or the buyer may not receive a loan amount large enough to cover the cost of your home. Let's talk early about your options if something smells like it might go awry.

9. Have a Move-Out Plan

While working on selling your home, cultivate a move-out plan. Get an idea of the costs involved, how long it will take and whether you may need temporary housing if your home sells quickly. 

10. Be Responsive.

I'll be getting in touch frequently to discuss the status of your property and questions from potential buyers. Do your best to answer promptly so we can keep things moving. I'll do the same.