SELLING A HOME IN MARYLAND OR VIRGINIA
A few things to consider when you have decided to sell your home are:
1. Do you plan to buy another home immediately?? If so, you would want to speak with an experienced
REALTOR ® or lender so that you know your buying strength.
This often causes a seller's dilemma about"
"Do I sell first and then buy?"
or
"Do I find the home I want to buy first and then put my home on the market?"
Work with an experienced REALTOR ® to list and sell your home. The time saved and the likelihood that you will NET more money for your home makes working with an experienced REALTOR ® well worth the fee that they will charge. Dealing with experienced buyers and or their agents means that you need to be on equal footing. Doing it yourself may work. But, the statistics are not in the favor of For Sale By Owner sellers. A good listing agent will earn their money.
IF YOU LIVE IN AN AREA THAT IS EXPERIENCING A "SELLER'S MARKET" which means a market with many home buyers competing for few properties, then you will probably not be able to buy with a contingency to sell your present home.
IF YOU ARE IN AN AREA THAT IS EXPERIENCING A "BUYER'S MARKET" meaning there are numerous home on the market and too few buyers, then you may be able to get a Buyer's Contingency to sell your home.
IF YOU ARE IN A SELLER'S MARKET and have significant equity in your present home, you may be able to use the equity home to buy your new home. Once you have completed the purchase of your newly selected home, you can then list and sell your existing home.
IF YOU ARE IN A FAST MOVING (SELLER'S) MARKET and do not have sufficient equity to use to make your new buy, you may want to consider selling your existing home and renting until you find your next home. This gives you the flexibility of selling, knowing exactly how much cash you have AND you can take your time shopping for the best home for you. Caution: In a seller's market, homes will be increasing in price rapidly. Don't wait too long.
BEFORE YOU SELL
Get your home ready to sell. It is a good idea, if the house price is sufficient to justify investing in your sale, to get a home inspection done and making all noted repairs BEFORE showing your home to prospective buyers. Buyers may still want to do their own home inspection, but it will be for their own peace of mind and at
their own expense.
MAKE YOUR HOME ACCESSIBLE TO PROSPECTIVE BUYERS
You're best time to sell at a good price is shortly after listing. Sellers who do not make their home easy to show often have a home with an "aged" listing. Agents who have to jump hoops to show a home may not bother if the home is hard to
access. Remember that the more buyers who see your home for sale, the better opportunity to sell for a higher price. A home that is not easily accessible and sits on the market for days, weeks may be over priced. Or, it could simply be hard to show. Protect your investment and when you decide to sell, let folks in to see it.
PETS DON'T ALWAYS LOVE EVERYONE
Sure, your pet dog loves you, your children and the neighbors he knows. But, do you know for sure that your dog loves everyone who might come in your home??, especially if the home is on lock box and can be accessed in your absence. Of course not. It is always a good idea, for your protection and for the comfort of the buyers and the agents showing your home to have a wire kennel to let your dog rest in while the home is being shown. Further, some children and adults will NOT enter a house with a dog lose to jump on them, bark or otherwise make them feel threatened. If the above doesn't convince you to crate your dog when
showing your home, consider the liability if a child is bitten by the "friendly dog".
Have fun. Sell your home. It's an adventure.
* Annapolis * Crofton * Severna Park * Pasadena * Owings Mills * Odenton * Pikesville * Catonsville * Towson
* Prince Frederick * Lusby * Westminster * Eldersburg
Elkton * Bel Air * Columbia, Ellicott City * Centreville *
* Easton
* Chestertown * Bethesda * Rockville * Silver Spring * Gaithersburg * Germantown * Olney * Bowie
*
Upper Marlboro * Laurel * Greenbelt * California * Lexington Park * Leonardtown * Hagerstown * Arlington
* Alexandria
* Chesapeake * Berryville * Culpeper * Fairfax
* Centreville * Great Falls * Vienna * McLean
* Reston
* Springfield * Warrenton * King George * Ashburn * Lovettsville * Sterling * Purcellville * South Riding
* Leesburg
* Manassas * Gainesville * Woodbridge * Haymarket * Bristow * Stafford * Fredericksburg
* Spotsylvania
* Stevensburg * Herndon * Clifton * Falls Church * Annandale
