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DURHAM REGION HOME SELLER'S GUIDE
Are you thinking about selling your home in the Durham Region? Selling a home is a big decision, as your home is probably your biggest investment. Obviously you want to make sure that you get the best possible price for your home and sell it in a timely manner.
If you've never sold a home before, the process can be challenging. While it may be tempting to do it yourself, the For Sale by Owner (FSBO) route can be complicated and take up a huge amount of your time and energy. A real estate agent can help you navigate the process and do much of the hard work for you.
If you're planning on selling your home, this guide can give you an idea of what the process entails. These tips and resources can help you avoid costly mistakes and get the best possible price for your home.
Why Work With a Real Estate Agent to Sell Your Home?
Selling your home is not as simple as setting a price and accepting the highest offer. You need to be sure your house is priced properly and then market it to the right people. Then you have to deal with negotiations, legalities, and paperwork.
One of the biggest problems people run into when using the For Sale By Owner (FSBO) method is limited exposure. You can't put your home in the MLS listings, so you may lose out on a huge number of buyers. A real estate agent can put your listing where people will see it.
Another common problem is attracting serious, qualified buyers. Many times people who visit FSBO properties are "window shopping'" or hunting for bargains. A real estate agent can connect you to people who are in the market for a home and ready to buy when they find one that fits their criteria.
Ontario Realtor® Dan Plowman and his team of local real estate experts can help you every step of the way, from determining the true value of your home to negotiating with buyers. We can advise you on the best practices to get your home sold quickly and with little to no hassles. These are just a few ways we can help:
- Determine the correct price of your home
- Develop a unique marketing plan for your property
- Put your property on local MLS listings and realtor publications
- Advise you on home repairs and renovations
- Help you stage your home
- Connect you with real estate lawyers
- Arrange and attend showings
- Negotiate on your behalf
- Handle paperwork and legalities
We can help you get the best price for your Durham Region property. Contact us online or call 905-668-1511 to speak to one of our real estate experts today!
Tips for Pricing Your Home Properly
Pricing your home can be tricky. If you price it too high, it may sit on the market for a long time, and that can make buyers wary. Price it too low and you may lose out on profits or even miss out on a sale because people may assume there is something wrong with a low-priced home.
If you're struggling with putting a price on your home, these are some tips that can help:
Get a Free Home Valuation
When it comes to selling homes in the Durham Region, we know the market inside and out. We can provide you with a free market analysis for your home that takes into account home values in the area and the most actively searched prices. Contact us today to get your free home evaluation.
See What Else is on the Market
By searching for other homes for sale in your area, you can see what the current prices are and get an idea of what your competition is like. Our search listings feature the most up-to-date properties for sale in communities throughout the Durham Region.
Don't Let Your Emotions Drive You
Selling a home can be a very emotional experience. After all, your home is something you invested a lot of time, energy, and money into. Because of this, many people want to price their home high based on their emotional attachment to it. The trick is to think logically and price based on the market.
Work With a Professional
A reliable real estate agent will be honest with you about the value of your home and help you price accordingly. Be wary of real estate agents who quote you the highest price just to get the listing. Our agents are committed to honesty, transparency, and getting you the best possible outcome.
How to Prepare Your Home for Sale
Before you officially put your home on the market, you need to make sure that it is attractive to buyers. A buyer should be able to walk into your home and envision themselves living there. These are a few things you can do to make your home appealing to buyers and stand out from the competition.
- Clear the Clutter. Excess clutter makes a home look smaller and dirtier than it actually is. Before showing your home, clear out extra furniture and personal items. Pick up kid's toys and pet paraphernalia. The goal is to highlight clean lines and space.
- Make any Necessary Repairs. You don't have to make major renovations to sell your home, but small repairs can go a long way. Fix any noticeable issues like burnt-out lightbulbs, broken door knobs, and broken windows. Larger issues can be addressed with a home inspection.
- Clean Inside and Out. No buyer is going to get a good impression from a dirty home. Before showing your home, do a thorough cleaning of your property including carpets, walls, shelving, and the outdoor areas. Tidy up your lawn and patio so it looks attractive for a potential buyer.
- Stage Your Home. One of the easiest ways to show your home in its best light is to stage it. A real estate agent can help you with this. New, modern furniture placed in strategic places can open up your living spaces and help potential buyers visualize themselves living there.
The Pros and Cons of Selling Your Home Yourself (FSBO)
If you're considering selling your home, you may have heard of the term FSBO (For Sale by Owner). This is the DIY process where a homeowner decides to act as their own real estate agent and sell their home by themselves. There are advantages and disadvantages to this method.
The main reason people choose the FSBO route is to pay lower commission fees. When you sell your home yourself, you only have to pay commission fees to the buyer's agent. This can save you money in closing costs. However, you will have to navigate all the other costs on your own, which may end up costing you more in the long run.
Another reason some homeowners work on their own is they have complete control over the sale. If you're the only person selling, you get to decide your price, who you show your home to, and who you sell it to. Keep in mind though that this also means that you are responsible for every step of the process.
One of the main disadvantages of the FSBO method is that the average homeowner does not have in-depth real estate knowledge. Think about how much you know about market trends, pricing strategies, and marketing channels. Do you know anything about legalities? A real estate agent can advise you on all of these points and more.
Access to marketing is another issue for FSBO home sellers. Your main goal when selling your home is to connect with people who are willing and able to buy your home. Putting up a "For Sale" sign won't get you nearly as many interested buyers as the MLS listings will.
Perhaps the biggest downside of FSBO is the time commitment. If you choose to sell your own home, you will have to do all the marketing, make repairs, take calls, schedule appointments, hold open houses, check buyer's qualifications, prepare documents, and take care of all the legalities.
At the end of the day, it just makes sense to work with a real estate agent because they can provide expert knowledge, connect you to serious buyers, and handle all the time consuming tasks that can be tedious if you don't have experience with them.
Are you selling your home in the Durham Region? Fill out the form below to get a free home valuation. We can also provide you with information and advice about pricing, staging, legalities and more!
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