If you’re thinking about selling your home in the Salt Lake City area and you’re a little unsure of the process, don’t be alarmed. From horror stories about ‘the market’ to the thought of having complete strangers poking their noses around in your closets, selling a home for the first time is a process that can seem a lot more complex than it really is. First-time home sales can be challenging, but with preparation and assistance from the Exit Realty Success selling team, you’ll have your house or condo sold and be moving on to your new home in no time. Below we’ll share a few pieces of advice for first-time home sellers:
Don’t Try Your First Sale Alone
As it may sound a bit self-serving we won’t belabor the point, but if this is your first sale it’s critical that you work with a professional real estate agent that understands the local market around your home. Our agents are experienced sales veterans that know the ins-and-outs of every neighborhood in Salt Lake City and the surrounding area, including what homes have recently sold, their selling prices, internal and external features and more. Going it alone on your first sale will make the process a lot tougher than it needs to be.
Pricing: the Most Important Element
As your home will receive the majority of buyer interest in the first couple of weeks after the listing goes up, pricing your home realistically is the most important element in a successful sale. Real estate websites with comprehensive listings (like the one you’re on right now) are where the majority of buyers will be browsing, and as they can sort by price you want to ensure you’re competitive with other listings in the area without being too far off the mark.
A word of warning: stay away from ‘testing the market’ with a high initial price; buyers’ agents are too well-informed to fall for this and it may turn off serious buyers who aren’t interested in a lengthy negotiation.
Go with ‘High Impact’ Upgrades, Not ‘High Cost’
It may seem tempting to try to upgrade and renovate everything in your home to make it appealing to buyers, but this isn’t necessary and can end up costing you far more than you recoup in additional value. To get the most out of your time and money, you’ll want to target the ‘high impact’ upgrades over ‘high cost’. For example, consider the front of your home as it’s the first area that prospective buyers will see. How does the front door look? Could it use a fresh coat of paint and a new handle? What about the front porch or veranda – are there plants around and if so, what is the condition of the pots they’re sitting in?
In short: consider inexpensive upgrades (paint is a great place to start) over major renovations that aren’t absolutely required.
As you can see, there are many factors that first-time home buyers need to consider. The team here at Exit Realty Success is ready to help ensure your sale is quick and easy; contact us at your convenience and for further home selling resources, click here to download our guide The Definitive Guide to Selling Your Home. Thanks for visiting!
