The Ultimate Checklist for Selling in 2022

Thinking of selling your home in 2022, but don’t know where to start?

Don’t worry! Here’s the ultimate checklist that goes over exactly what you have to do to prepare for a successful sale.

First things first. Know the market. We cannot stress this enough. The real estate scene is constantly changing, and if you’re not up to date on the latest market trends, you could be losing out big-time when it comes to selling your house. 

2021 was a crazy year for real estate. With interest rates at an all-time low, buyers were flooding in. Add to that a major shortage of inventory, and you get today’s real estate battleground. With more active buyers than there are homes for sale, properties are flying off the shelves at record speed for record price. In fact, many of our clients have sold for more than $75,000 over list price in a matter of days!

Knowing this, if you rely on a systemized algorithm like the Zestimate to help you set a game plan, you’re doing yourself a huge disservice. We highly recommend getting a professional Cost Market Analysis from a real estate agent who is not only familiar with the general trends, but also knows specifically what that means for your local area. This way you can get a better idea of what you should price your house at in order to get top dollar. (Keep in mind that starting high does not always get you the best value.)

One of the first things we tell our clients who are preparing to list their home is declutter. The more presentable your home looks, the more interest it will generate among buyers both online and in person. 

Whether it’s clearing off that counter you “haven’t gotten to” the past few months, or organizing the kids’ toys, or giving the exterior a fresh coat of paint, take a look around your home with the eyes of a potential buyer, and see what can be improved.

This doesn’t mean you need to do a major home makeover or pack away all of your belongings. Just clear the clutter, and more importantly, maintain it. Trying to tidy up your home right before listing can be overwhelming and frustrating. So start small and set a consistent plan. A few days every week, slowly start organizing, so that by the time you’re ready to list the house, everything will be ready to go!

Even in this fast-moving market, it’s never been more important to hire the right real estate agent to partner with. If you’re like most people, your home is your biggest financial investment. Wouldn’t you want a partner you can trust to handle the transaction?

If you would like to get the maximum potential for your home, and not have to sit for weeks on the market with no results, then make sure to hire a marketing agent (not just a listing agent). The difference lies in the knowledge and quality of the social media campaigns that generate the most interest in buyers, and the innovative marketing strategies that shine the spotlight on your home.

Find an agent that knows what it means to negotiate effectively and fight aggressively on your behalf. Too often, agents will settle for “good enough” and not push for the best interest of their clients. You deserve better than that. So choose a professional team of real estate agents who actually have your back.

Do you need to buy a new home in order to sell? Will you be renting? Will you be moving out of state? What comes next after the sale?

Figuring out your plans early on in the home-selling process will ensure that everything moves smoothly and efficiently. You can avoid potential delays and negotiate the terms of the contract to best benefit your scenario.

For example, if you need to secure a replacement property, you can take advantage of the contingency clauses. In essence, you have the right to cancel the sale of your home if you do not find a new one, and you can cancel the purchase of your new home if you are unable to sell your current one, at no cost or consequence to you. This way, you are protected on all ends, and never have to worry about being homeless or taking on two mortgages. You can even negotiate for a few months of free rent back that will allow you plenty of time to get settled in your new home after the close of escrow.

Whether you’re looking to sell your home right away, or in the next few months,it’s never too early to get prepared. If you’re open to a no-obligation consultation,I’d love to sit down and go over the game plan that has helped hundreds of homeownerssuccessfully sell their home.