Tips for Selling Your Home

Selling tips

You will feel reassured when you work with the professionals at the Acton Real Estate Company. We have the experience and training needed to navigate the complex and ever changing world of real estate. Our services provide every advantage throughout the process, including assistance with market analysis, contract negotiations and financing.

When to put your property on the market

Typically, the spring and summer are the busier times of the year for real estate, driven by school starts in late August, although there are varying levels of activity year-round. Essentially, once your property is prepared for selling and you are ready to sell, finding the right time is as much a personal decision as it is a market decision. There are arguments to be made that offering property for sale during slower periods will attract greater attention from the larger co-brokerage community.

Getting your property ready

Before putting your home on the market, remember that the goal is to show a home that looks attractive, appealing and ready to live in. Think about how the house "shows" both cosmetically and functionally, from paint and landscaping to well-operating appliances and mechanical systems. Think about clearing out clutter to maximize the appearance of space; painting to make your house look fresh; and repairing the things on your "to do" list. You will make buyers feel like they're ready to move in. By helping to create demand for your property, you will be sure to get the best possible price.

Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)

Allow us to use our years of experience and knowledge of the local marketplace to suggest the listing price for your home. Our knowledge of the local real estate market will serve you well by providing solid, recent information supporting the correct value for your home.

Finding the right real estate agent to represent you is a critical step to selling your property. It goes without saying that working with an agent you like and trust will make the selling experience a comfortable one. This person will act as your coach, your business manager and facilitator throughout the process.

Here are several ways you can find an agent who is right for you:

• Get recommendations from past sellers
• Meet agents at Open Houses
• Find referrals from signs and listings in the community

Often referrals from neighbors, friends or suggestions from financial planners, lenders, attorneys and CPA's will help point you in the right direction. Also consider experience and professional certifications of individual agents. Finally, we suggest that this decision not be based on an agent that recommends the highest selling price for your home. The quality of the CMA should accurately reflect market value, and in the end, the market dictates the appropriate price; not the agent. Choosing well will ensure a harmonious and timely real estate transaction.

Marketing your property comes with experience and familiarity in the local market. Tailoring a comprehensive marketing plan for your property is our specialty. Our on-line marketing includes: Multiple Listing Service (MLS) - with our "Visual Tours" advantage, enhanced presence on Realtor.com and Homes.com, along with links to over 30 other premium websites, to complement the Acton Real Estate website. You will also receive exposure in print. Advertising will appear in our local publications like: The Boston Globe, The Beacon, & Action Unlimited. Your home will be shown to the entire brokerage community through agent-only "broker tours" in addition to community-wide open houses.

Lastly, but also important to the marketing of your property, our office is located on busy Massachusetts Avenue, open seven days a week. The Acton Real Estate Company is one of the most well known real estate brokerage brands in the region. Our professional reputation and commitment to the community are second to none.

Choosing a price that reflects value is key.

Your agent has the experience and knowledge to help you with this. Once you have completed all of the steps explained above, as well as all of the paperwork, including a contract with a licensed Massachusetts Brokerage, like the Acton Real Estate Company, you are ready to receive the pool of buyers who will be considering your home in the first weeks your home is on the market. Likely they will have viewed many other homes and have a good sense of pricing in the current real estate market. Buyers today walk away from over-priced homes, but they will likely pay a premium (sometimes above the listing price) to buy a correctly-priced home.

Professional marketing takes advantage of the existing pool of ready, willing, and able buyers. Typically a well-priced listing brings multiple offers in the first few days. Take advantage of this period to sell your home. Your agent can guide you through this process, as offers will undoubtedly contain important terms and conditions separate and apart from the monetary consideration.

Once you have accepted an offer, select a real estate attorney to review the proposed purchase and sale agreement. Once your buyers have had all of their desired inspections (usually a period of about two weeks), the purchase and sale agreement is ready to be signed without delay.

Your agent will guide you in obtaining all of the necessary documents needed for the closing of your sale. This can be done while you are waiting for your buyers' mortgage commitment. The coordination of this process can at times be overwhelming, but you can count on your agent and the administrative staff at the Acton Real Estate Company to arrange a smooth transaction. Our aim is to offer you a professional experience keeping you completely informed and satisfied throughout the entire process.

Staging a Property

Preparing your home for sale means that clutter must go, personal collections should be stored away and the yard should offer curb appeal.

Additional tips include:

• De-personalizing the space by removing family photos, trophies, posters etc.
• Clearing high-traffic areas of excess furnishings to maximize feeling of space
• Highlighting key features in each room, and make sure they are not obscured by plants or furnishings.

If you have not heard of the term staging before, you most surely will hear it as you are advised of what you can do to help sell your property. In today's market, buyers expect to move right in and enjoy their new home. Whether one's time or home improvement skills are lacking, the house on the market which is portrayed as the "handyman special" will likely not sell easily these days. Our professionals will help you create a great first impression and make your home more appealing to buyers.