Jump AheadTable of Content
1. Evaluate Your Motivation
2. Research the Market
3. Prepare Your House
4. Set the Right Price
5. Choose a Selling Strategy
6. Marketing and Listing
7. Negotiation Skills
8. Legal and Documentation
9. Home Inspection and Appraisal
10. Closing the Deal
1. Evaluate Your Motivation:
The selling process will get much easier emotionally if you have a clear motivation for selling your house. Whenever we look to sell our house, the inner child stops us from doing it, and we keep postponing it. Still, if we have a clear motivation for selling the house, we will take immediate action and prepare ourselves for the big decision.
Without a proper reason selling your house is a big decision. If you are looking for a bigger and better place, if you want to live in a new surrounding, or if you invest the money in a better place, then it financially makes sense to sell your house. A significant reason will ultimately convince you to sell your house and give you an overall idea of what you will do with the money.
2. Research the Market:
Be up to date with the latest trends and advancements in your area. If anyone in your locality or the neighborhood has recently sold their house, you can discuss it with them and know the market price. This will help you determine the selling price of our house. Without proper research, you will end up selling your house at a price that you will regret, so give ample time to research the real estate market because the amount involved in this transaction is quite enormous.
Tip- If you get to know about some news of your area through credible sources which announce development in your area, such as Metro extension, highway development, or inauguration of an airport, then you should wait for the development to begin as it will increase the prices of Property rates enormously.
3. Prepare Your House:
Anyone looking to buy your house will spend a significant amount of his life earnings, so it is a big decision for them and possibly the biggest purchase of their life. They won't be interested in buying a house that is not visually appealing. First impressions matter heavily in the Real Estate Market; if your house is not looking stunning from the outside, then most potential buyers won't even consider checking it from the inside. Get all the necessary repairs done, as minor issues attract the attention of buyers and resist them from buying the property because the everyday thinking that everyone has is, "If on the first visit, we can see such issues, then what else the owner might be hiding." Declutter and deep clean the house because a messed up house doesn't give lavish vibes to the buyers.
A small investment like painting the house from the outside can benefit you greatly as it will give a spotless and fresh first impression of the house and attract more buyers. The more buyers see your house, the more chance you have of getting your desired price.
4. Set the Right Price:
Price is one of the most crucial factors every buyer considers before buying a house. Even if he loves all the aspects of the house, if the price doesn't suit him, then no deal is happening; Price is what everything boils down to when it comes to selling or purchasing a house. If you want to sell your house, setting an appropriate price is necessary. Finding the right selling price can be challenging, but if you have researched the market earlier, the determination will be comparatively more straightforward. The price should do justice to the market value, the condition of your house, and your urgency to sell the house.
If you overprice your house, then you will end up creating a high entry barrier from which most of the people sidestep. Selling a house is a two side deal. If the buyer doesn't find your house a good investment for his money, then most of the buyers will avoid buying your house, and it will leave a wrong impression in the real estate market, which you don't want.
Whereas underpricing your house will lead you to suffer from unnecessary loss and missed opportunities. If you sell your house at a lower price than the market rate, you will always regret the decision as many of your emotions are attached to the house. Before you set a price for your house, consult with real estate agents; they can suggest an appropriate selling price for your house.
5. Choose a Selling Strategy:
Now that you are done with the pricing of your house, it is time to decide which way you will pursue to sell your house. Either you can sell it independently, or you can hire a real estate agent.
If you have good connections in the market and good selling skills, then selling the house independently can save you a lot of money that otherwise will be spent on the brokerage and commission of the real estate agent. When selling your house on your own, you should have the mindset of a salesperson and not a homeowner. You should think it is your job to sell the house and convince the buyer. You should look to create belief in the buyer that this house is what he was looking for and that this house satisfies all his requirements.
Hiring a real estate agent will surely be an added expense in the selling process. But the agent will bring his years of experience and expertise to the table, saving you a lot of time selling the house. Most of us have no idea about the in-depth Paperwork required for selling the house, and the agent will help us relieve us from the guesswork. In selling the house, it is difficult to trust the buying party, but the agent helps build trust between both parties.
6. Marketing and Listing:
When you hire a real estate agent, you are free from all the hassle of looking for potential buyers as the agent lists the property on various property listing sites and also informs other real estate agents in his network about the house so that more and more buyers get aware about your house.
If you are working independently, then it becomes your duty to advertise and promote your house. You can do that by using online platforms, social media, spreading the word in societies, workplaces, and other traditional advertising methods. You can also make videos of your house showing its features and upload the video on social media platforms so that you can attract interested buyers and they can have a better look at the property.
7. Negotiation Skills:
Like any other deal in India, be ready for some negotiation. Everyone looks for a steal deal, and nobody minds getting a few extra bucks, so every potential buyer will look to bargain. Be prepared for the tiring negotiation conversations and offers that do not match your expectations. When selling your house, your negotiation skills matter a lot because, at the negotiation table, you must show the buyer value in your property and convince the buyer to close the deal at a fair price. Your negotiation skills will play a significant role in getting you the ideal price for your home as it is a bargain, so both parties need to understand that they will need to make compromises for the deal to succeed. While negotiating, ensure you set a bottom line and don't go beyond it.
8. Legal and Documentation:
Now that you have found an offer you were looking for and accepted it, it is time for some or rather a lot of Paperwork. There is quite a lot of legal and documentation work involved in the process of selling a house, but it is crucial to be done to avoid any legal issues and conflicts later on. When you are closing into accepting an offer, make sure you start looking for a real estate attorney or legal professional so that he can draft a purchase agreement and disclosure forms and handle title searches. Ensure that all the Paperwork is done timely; otherwise, it can hamper the whole selling process.
9. Home Inspection and Appraisal:
Most buyers will conduct a home inspection to assess the property's condition, which is also a logical decision. Even when we make essential grocery purchases, we thoroughly overview the product and then buy it, so buying a house is a huge deal. It is every buyer's right to be completely aware of the flaws and features of the house, which they can know by conducting a home inspection, as professionals can judge the condition of the house way better than average house buyers. That's why as a seller, it becomes crucial to solve all the minor repairs of the house early on because if you think you can hide them, then you are wrong, the buyers will eventually know of any significant issue in the house, and it will lead to a conflict later on.
A better approach to this will be, to be honest with the buyer about the house's condition, and if there is some issue, you should clearly state that to the buyer. You can follow any of the three methods to ensure that transparency is maintained and the buyer doesn't feel cheated when he conducts a home inspection:
- You can sell the house at a slightly discounted rate which will cover the issue in the house.
- You can sell the house at market price and later compensate the buyer for any damage.
- You can spend early on and resolve the issue to sell the house at market price further.
Home Appraisal might also be required to know the house's exact value. This is required if the buyer takes a loan to buy the house. This is a process that lenders require to know the actual value of the house they are giving loans for. The Appraisal results are something that you can't control, so be relaxed during the process.
10. Closing the Deal:
The complete deal is not done in a day or two. It can take months for the completion of the deal. As the closing date approaches, ensure you are completely prepared and have all the required documents. If you have hired a broker, then he will assist you in this process. To close the deal, you must sign the necessary paperwork, transfer the house ownership, and collect the complete payment.
Once you have received the complete payment that both parties agreed on and are done with all the documentation, you can transfer possession of the house and hand over the keys to the new owner.
Selling your house is a multifaceted process that requires careful planning, market knowledge, and effective communication. By following this comprehensive guide, you'll be well-equipped to successfully navigate the various stages of selling your house. Whether you aim to achieve a swift sale or maximize your property's value, taking a proactive and strategic approach will help you achieve your selling goals and confidently move on to your next chapter.