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Posted by Melissa Lynn Galland on Apr 13, 2017 9:00:00 AM
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The excitement of building a new home is unforgettable. Finding that perfect plot of land, selecting your floor plan and customizations, and adding the finishes that will make it your own—it truly is a one-of-a-kind experience.


Of course, all that excitement can only come once you’ve sold your existing home. But these days, selling your home doesn’t have to be a stressful or drawn-out process. In many areas across the country, homeowners are enjoying a seller’s market. And even if your market is a little slower, there are plenty of ways you can prepare and market your home to make it look its best.


Here, we cover some of the basics of preparing and selling your home—and what time of year is best for getting your full asking price.

Prepare Your Home

As you get ready to put your home on the market, there are several important steps that can help increase your chances of selling your home at asking price and in a reasonable time frame.

First, clean your home thoroughly. This should be a deep clean that includes often-neglected areas like baseboards, blinds, and gutters. Remember that you see your home every day, and over time, it’s easy to overlook small imperfections. Now is the time to view your home through the eyes of a potential buyer.


Next, make any small, cost-effective improvements that will help your home show in the best possible light. Typically, examples include paint touch-ups and fixing or replacing broken items, such as leaky faucets.


Now you’ll want to assess if any larger investments of time and/or money would be worthwhile. In particular, consider the areas that most often attract buyers: the kitchen and bathrooms. Do the kitchen cabinets need to be replaced—or would it make more sense to let the next owners do that? Is there grimy shower tile that needs to go?


Finally, minimize the clutter in your house as much as possible. Clearing out unnecessary stuff makes your house feel larger and also helps potential buyers picture themselves living in it. Then, as much as possible, stage your home in a way that highlights the good while detracting from the bad.

How to Sell

When you’re ready to put your home on the market, there are two paths available:


  1. Sell it through a real estate agent.
  2. Sell it yourself.

Each option has its own advantages, so consider what would work best for you. Selling the home yourself would save you the six percent commission fee that real estate agents typically charge. However, working with an agent can benefit you in many ways, including providing access to qualified buyers, strategic marketing, a higher sales price through negotiation, and an overall shorter sales time.


If you choose the for-sale-by-owner route, be sure to take these three important steps:


  1. Have your home evaluated by a professional appraiser. This will help you determine the ideal price range.
  2. Have your home inspected before you advertise it. Taking care of key problems can help you save time and money in the long run.
  3. Market your home effectively. Today, there are endless ways to market a home yourself. You can advertise online, pay to have it listed in an MLS, put up fliers, host open houses, and more. Look online for best practices for getting the word out.

When to Sell

Generally, the best time to sell a home is during the warmer months. Most people prefer to move when the weather is mild, and moving during summer break means that children won’t have to change schools during the middle of the year.


According to research by Zillow, homes sell faster and for more money in early May than at any other time of the year. Most experts recommend listing your home in April. If you haven’t sold by late fall, consider putting your marketing on hold over the winter and then trying again in the spring.


Of course, it’s important to keep an eye on your local residential market. Are homes selling quickly? Is there a shortage or surplus of homes for sale? These and other factors might impact when you should list your home.


Ready to start building your next home? Visit with a Home Ownership Counselor to learn more about the Adair Homes process and how to build a beautiful custom home that fits within your budget and makes the most of the profits from your home sale. Contact us today to get started.