HOWTO SELL

A HOUSE

Looking for a new home and selling your old one should be a rejuvenating experience. However, if the thought of selling a house seems daunting for you, here is some professional advice to walk you through the process of selling your house, from listing to closing.

MARKET YOUR HOME

CLEAN & ORGANIZE

HOME INSPECTION

Perform a Home Inspection and Set the PriceBuyers often will have a home professionally inspected as part of the negotiation process before they close, so make sure you perform an inspection of your own so you won’t be blindsided by a surprise issue. The main areas to keep in mind are the roof, foundation and basement, electrical system, heating system, plumbing, visible insulation in the attic, windows, walls, and ceilings. Resolve any issues with these before you advertise the house. If buyers see a potential problem, they may balk at a purchase or ask for a lower price so they can make the needed changes. The real estate agent working with you to sell your home will conduct a property evaluation and a comparative market analysis (CMA) to determine the value of your property. A CMA compares your home to others like it (factoring in space, number of rooms, special features, etc.) in the same or similar neighborhoods. This gives you the price most reflective

Market Your Home Marketing your home can be affected by both the season and the state of the market. In general, spring is the most popular real estate season. The agreeable weather is better for driving to new destinations and moving furniture. Parents are also reluctant to pull kids out of school in the middle of the year, preferring to wait till summer to make major changes. However, although

there are fewer buyers in winter, they are very serious about buying and will want to close a sale quickly. While people may have a more casual attitude about looking for a house in summer, winter buyers are looking because they need a house right then. Even though the environment may be different at different times of the year, it is still worth marketing your home year-round. Another consideration is the activity in your

current market. If a lot of sales and growth is happening in your area, the market is favorable for you to sell. However, if there are short sales and foreclosures in your neighborhood, you may not be able to ask for as much for the home. If the market is in this condition, you may want to hold out for a few months longer before listing so the recent sales will not affect your own as strongly.

Clean and Organize Your HomeAfter you decide to list your home, the first step is to give it a thorough cleaning. Each home will require a different approach, but the main tasks should be to shampoo the carpets, clean the gutters, clear up tile grout, and wipe down the blinds and window wells. If you don’t have the time to do all the work yourself, hire someone to help you. While you’re at it, take this opportunity to get rid of some clutter. Either throw out the junk that’s piled up over the years or stow as much of your belongings as you can into bins or a temporary storage unit. Having a clean and spacious looking home may result in a higher offer as well as appeal more to potential buyers. A major concern that buyers have is space, so show off your home’s potential by opening up the area as much as possible.

of the current market value. Setting the price at or around this value is critical in the sales process, and it can cost you thousands if mishandled. If you set the price too low for a sale, you have simply lost money. If you set the price too high, you may scare off buyers and fail to receive satisfactory offers. This is why keeping your price close to the current market value is key for the sale.

Buyer Financing Buyer Financing Buyer Financing For Buyer Financing For Buyer Financing For Buyer Financing For Buyer Financing For Buyer Financing

For any potential buyers who comes For any potential buyers who comes For any potential buyers who comes For any potential buyers who comes For any potential buyers who comes

through your home, make sure they through your home, make sure they through your home, make sure they through your home, make sure they through your home, make sure they

are pre-approved. If you agree to sell to are pre-approved. If you agree to sell to are pre-approved. If you agree to sell to are pre-approved. If you agree to sell to are pre-approved. If you agree to sell to

someone who does not have pre-approval, someone who does not have pre-approval, someone who does not have pre-approval, someone who does not have pre-approval, someone who does not have pre-approval,

there is always a chance that they will there is always a chance that they will there is always a chance that they will there is always a chance that they will there is always a chance that they will

have difficulty being approved for a have difficulty being approved for a have difficulty being approved for a have difficulty being approved for a have difficulty being approved for a

mortgage. While this is unfortunate for the mortgage. While this is unfortunate for the mortgage. While this is unfortunate for the mortgage. While this is unfortunate for the mortgage. While this is unfortunate for the

buyer, it is also a waste of your valuable buyer, it is also a waste of your valuable buyer, it is also a waste of your valuable buyer, it is also a waste of your valuable buyer, it is also a waste of your valuable

time. Experienced real estate agents time. Experienced real estate agents time. Experienced real estate agents time. Experienced real estate agents time. Experienced real estate agents

typically make sure their clients are pre-typically make sure their clients are pre-typically make sure their clients are pre-typically make sure their clients are pre-typically make sure their clients are pre-

approved before showing them houses, approved before showing them houses, approved before showing them houses, approved before showing them houses, approved before showing them houses,

but sometimes this step is left out. Save but sometimes this step is left out. Save but sometimes this step is left out. Save but sometimes this step is left out. Save but sometimes this step is left out. Save

yourself later hassle by making sure you yourself later hassle by making sure you yourself later hassle by making sure you yourself later hassle by making sure you yourself later hassle by making sure you

only schedule appointments to show your only schedule appointments to show your only schedule appointments to show your only schedule appointments to show your only schedule appointments to show your

house with pre-approved buyers. house with pre-approved buyers. house with pre-approved buyers. house with pre-approved buyers. house with pre-approved buyers.

Negotiation & ClosingNegotiation & ClosingNegotiation & ClosingIf a buyer is interested but not quite ready If a buyer is interested but not quite ready If a buyer is interested but not quite ready If a buyer is interested but not quite ready If a buyer is interested but not quite ready

to take the plunge, here is your opportunity to take the plunge, here is your opportunity to take the plunge, here is your opportunity to take the plunge, here is your opportunity to take the plunge, here is your opportunity

to make the offer more attractive. Be to make the offer more attractive. Be to make the offer more attractive. Be to make the offer more attractive. Be to make the offer more attractive. Be

prepared to make certain concessions. prepared to make certain concessions. prepared to make certain concessions. prepared to make certain concessions. prepared to make certain concessions.

Offer to lower the price by $500 to Offer to lower the price by $500 to Offer to lower the price by $500 to Offer to lower the price by $500 to Offer to lower the price by $500 to

refinish the deck. Throw in a few kitchen refinish the deck. Throw in a few kitchen refinish the deck. Throw in a few kitchen refinish the deck. Throw in a few kitchen refinish the deck. Throw in a few kitchen

appliances. Offer closing cost assistance. A appliances. Offer closing cost assistance. A appliances. Offer closing cost assistance. A appliances. Offer closing cost assistance. A appliances. Offer closing cost assistance. A

small sacrifice on your part may be enough small sacrifice on your part may be enough small sacrifice on your part may be enough small sacrifice on your part may be enough small sacrifice on your part may be enough

to make the deal seem irresistible. to make the deal seem irresistible. to make the deal seem irresistible. to make the deal seem irresistible. to make the deal seem irresistible.

Also, losing a little now may be a more Also, losing a little now may be a more Also, losing a little now may be a more Also, losing a little now may be a more Also, losing a little now may be a more

favorable option than continuing to pay a favorable option than continuing to pay a favorable option than continuing to pay a favorable option than continuing to pay a favorable option than continuing to pay a

monthly mortgage on a house you don’t monthly mortgage on a house you don’t monthly mortgage on a house you don’t monthly mortgage on a house you don’t monthly mortgage on a house you don’t

want. Most importantly, be ready to walk want. Most importantly, be ready to walk want. Most importantly, be ready to walk want. Most importantly, be ready to walk want. Most importantly, be ready to walk

away from an unreasonable offer. Keep away from an unreasonable offer. Keep away from an unreasonable offer. Keep away from an unreasonable offer. Keep away from an unreasonable offer. Keep

your needs and goals in mind while going your needs and goals in mind while going your needs and goals in mind while going your needs and goals in mind while going your needs and goals in mind while going

through this process.through this process.through this process.through this process.through this process.

Once you enter negotiations, it is Once you enter negotiations, it is Once you enter negotiations, it is Once you enter negotiations, it is Once you enter negotiations, it is

important to close as quickly as you can important to close as quickly as you can important to close as quickly as you can important to close as quickly as you can important to close as quickly as you can

manage. Have the proper documentation manage. Have the proper documentation manage. Have the proper documentation manage. Have the proper documentation manage. Have the proper documentation

and disclosure statements (required by and disclosure statements (required by and disclosure statements (required by and disclosure statements (required by and disclosure statements (required by

your state) prepared as you begin to your state) prepared as you begin to your state) prepared as you begin to your state) prepared as you begin to your state) prepared as you begin to

market your home. If you are unsure of market your home. If you are unsure of market your home. If you are unsure of market your home. If you are unsure of market your home. If you are unsure of

what you need or do not understand the what you need or do not understand the what you need or do not understand the what you need or do not understand the what you need or do not understand the

contractual requirements, you can hire a contractual requirements, you can hire a contractual requirements, you can hire a contractual requirements, you can hire a contractual requirements, you can hire a

realtor or real estate attorney to help you realtor or real estate attorney to help you realtor or real estate attorney to help you realtor or real estate attorney to help you realtor or real estate attorney to help you

with these tasks. with these tasks. with these tasks. with these tasks. with these tasks.

After the price and terms of negotiation After the price and terms of negotiation After the price and terms of negotiation After the price and terms of negotiation After the price and terms of negotiation

have been settled, immediately take care have been settled, immediately take care have been settled, immediately take care have been settled, immediately take care have been settled, immediately take care

of any remaining obligations and clear out. of any remaining obligations and clear out. of any remaining obligations and clear out. of any remaining obligations and clear out. of any remaining obligations and clear out.

Remember that at any point while selling Remember that at any point while selling Remember that at any point while selling Remember that at any point while selling Remember that at any point while selling

your home, you can bring in professionals your home, you can bring in professionals your home, you can bring in professionals your home, you can bring in professionals your home, you can bring in professionals

to help with part or all of the process, to help with part or all of the process, to help with part or all of the process, to help with part or all of the process, to help with part or all of the process,

including cleaners, stagers, brokers, and, including cleaners, stagers, brokers, and, including cleaners, stagers, brokers, and, including cleaners, stagers, brokers, and, including cleaners, stagers, brokers, and,

of course, real estate agents.of course, real estate agents.of course, real estate agents.of course, real estate agents.of course, real estate agents.

About Prudential Preferred Realty

Prudential Preferred Realty is

part of the national Prudential

network, operating 19 branches

throughout the Pittsburgh area

and the surrounding counties in

Western Pennsylvania. The firm has

been thriving for decades, and in

that time has helped thousands of

customers list homes for sale from

Greensburg to Beaver. As realtors in

PA, the Prudential Preferred team

is fully versed in Pennsylvania real

estate law, and each member is

able to either help with the full

sales process or provide real estate

consultation services for clients.

HOWTO SELL

A HOUSE

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