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If you're considering selling your home in the beautiful greater Raleigh area of North Carolina, this is to help to understand the steps of the home-selling process. Whether you're a first-time seller or a seasoned homeowner, read on for valuable information on how to list your home for sale in Raleigh.
STEP 1: FINDING THE BEST LISTING AGENT FOR YOU
The home-selling process can be a long one, especially in the current market. Homes are taking longer to sell and as a seller, you want to make sure to find the right Real Estate Agent to serve your best interests. The right Agent will not only guide you through the process but should serve to make the home-selling process as stress-free and smooth as possible. Sure, you can ride in a car without shock absorbers, but it might be a bumpy ride! A great agent will smooth that ride for you and the road to selling your house as smooth and stress-free as possible.
The process of finding the right agent can include finding them online or asking friends, family, and coworkers for referrals. Not every agent is going to fit your needs or your personality. Yes, experience and ability are very important, but also consider what you are looking for….are you looking for someone to hold your hand through the process and answer all of your questions quickly and personally? Maybe someone who runs a big team and does hundreds of transactions a year isn’t the right fit because you are likely not going to have much communication with them after you hire them. They are going to hand you off to other people on their team to go through the process. Maybe an Individual agent is a better fit. Also, does your personality align with theirs? Do you get a sense of honesty, compassion, and commitment to serving your best interests? These are all factors to consider when selecting a Real Estate Agent to advocate for you. I STEP 2: PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR SALE
Once you have found the right Agent to guide you, that Agent will ask to tour your home and make notes of everything from upgrades that you have done to the age of the roof, the hot water heater and the HVAC system. (Just as a side note, any information that you have saved on the house, the deed, a survey, HOA Covenants and Restrictions, appliance brochures, service records…anything and everything is helpful to provide to your Agent!) You will discuss the property inside and out (probably more than you care to!) to make sure that the Agent knows as much as possible about your home. Be prepared to sign several NC disclosures regarding specifics on your house and the area.
The biggest step in listing your home for sale is to prepare it for the market. Your Agent will give you a to-do list to tackle to get the house ready to list. I, personally, like to enlist the help of a professional stager to discuss how to present the house in the most appealing way. Raleigh's real estate scene is competitive, so you want your home to shine! Depending on your timeline, (do you have months to prepare or weeks?) you will need to do whatever you can in the time you have to get the most bang for the buck. Start by decluttering and depersonalizing your space.
Clean, organize, and consider minor repairs to make your home look its best. Keep in mind that you have to detach yourself from the home with your personal touches. You are now creating a product, a house, to appeal to as many people as possible. You want to create a neutral palette so as many people as possible can envision themselves living in the same space with their furniture and their lifestyle. Check out this video I made on why staging is so important in the sales process.
STEP 3: SETTING THE RIGHT PRICE
You will have likely discussed a broader sale price range for your home when you first met with the Agent that you hired. This range is based on comparable sales in your neighborhood and understanding the market trends. Now, however, it's time to determine a specific list price for your home. Based on the location, condition and upgrades of your home, as well as the most recent comparable sales and the current market, you and your Agent will decide on the best price at which to list your home.
STEP 4: MARKETING YOUR HOME
Marketing plays a crucial role in selling your home quickly and at the right price. A great agent will leverage online platforms, social media, and local real estate websites to reach a broader audience. Capturing your home's best features in the best light is necessary for great online marketing. Once you have done whatever you are willing or able to do as far as preparing it for sale, (decluttering, painting, repairs, upgrades, staging), your Agent should have professional measurements and photographs taken of the property to showcase it in its best light.
Once the professional photos, video and measurements have been taken, your agent is basically ready to list your house on the market. Depending on your prior discussions, you may have a “Coming Soon” or “For Sale” sign put in your yard and a lockbox put on the door for agents and their clients to be able to have access to tour your home.
It is not fun feeling like you are not comfortable living in your own home, but it is important while the house is on the market, to keep it as clean, uncluttered and “show-ready” as possible. Just prepare yourself mentally that this can go on for weeks, which can be frustrating and tiring.
STEP 5: OFFERS AND NEGOTIATIONS
Let the offers start rolling in! Once your house is on the market, if it is appealing and priced and marketed right, you hope to start receiving offers quickly. You will work closely with your real estate agent to review all offers, negotiate terms, and navigate the closing process. Raleigh has specific regulations and paperwork involved in real estate transactions, so having a professional by your side is invaluable. Once you have received an offer that you are willing to accept, your agent will facilitate the signing of all paperwork necessary to sell your home. In North Carolina, you will receive any non-refundable Due Diligence money offered by the accepted offer’s buyer upon your acceptance of their offer.
After you have accepted an offer, you can relax a little on keeping your house pristine for showings, but you will have to let buyers in several times for various Inspections and walk-throughs prior to closing.
STEP 6: CLOSING AND TRANSFER
As a Seller in NC, you can sign a few days prior to the actual closing day if the documents are ready with the Closing Attorney. On Closing day, once you and any others on your deed have signed, AND the buyers have signed and moneys are transferred, the sale will be recorded with the County, keys will be handed over and the sale will be complete. The Sales Process can take from several weeks to many months. I hope that this step-by-step guide on how to list your home for sale in Raleigh, North Carolina was helpful. Remember, preparation, pricing, showcasing, marketing, and expert guidance are the keys to a successful home sale in this fantastic area.
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