Years ago, it may have been love at first sight, but now is the time to break up with your current home and move on to something better. How do you make a fresh start and devote all of your time and energy to your new love — your new Waterloo Region dream home?
Here are some of our top tips to help you keep your emotions in check and stay sane while you sell your home.
1. Ensure You Are Really Ready to Sell
Determine if you have enough compelling reasons to sell your home before proceeding. Make a physical list of the reasons you want to relocate. Financial reasons, a need for more space, access to a better school district, a job change, or even a desire to downsize could all be factors. Wait a few months and re-evaluate if you're having trouble coming up with good "whys."
2. Get Emotionally Prepared to Sell
You'll need to emotionally prepare for the selling process once you've decided to sell. When you put your house on the market, it becomes subject to intense scrutiny. Following showings, buyers and realtors will provide feedback. Some flaws will inevitably be discovered during the inspection process.
It's natural to have feelings about all this, but keep in mind that this is a business transaction. Make every effort not to take criticism personally.
3. Get Your Home Pricing Right
When you don't really want to sell your house, you might be tempted to overprice it. Do some research first to figure out how much your home is worth.
Also, see what other homes similar to yours have recently sold for. Any unique features your home may have, such as high-end finishes, a large lot size, or a swimming pool, should be considered. Better yet, enlist the assistance of a reputable local real estate agent in determining the appropriate price.
4. Reframe Your Home as a Product
While your home holds a lot of sentimental value and memories for you, a potential buyer will see it differently. Put yourself in the buyer's shoes as you examine the house's features and flaws.
Highlight all the best features and fix any flaws that could detract from the overall value (for example: remove clutter, have the carpets professionally cleaned, and paint over any bright colors with neutral tones). Finally, look for simple investments that will increase the perceived value of your home, such as the addition of new fixtures to replace old, outdated ones.
5. Remain Involved in the Sales Process
Putting your house on the market isn't something you do one day and then forget about. The more in tune with the process you are, the more in control you will feel, and the more satisfied you will be with the end result.
Inquire with your real estate agent about the next steps and then stay in touch with them regularly. For showings and inspections, keep the house clean. Pay attention to feedback from potential buyers and realtors, and promptly respond to their questions. Read all paperwork carefully, and if there is anything you don't understand, ask questions. Any good Waterloo Region real estate agent will be happy to answer them all.
6. View Potential Buyers with an Open Mind
You might imagine that the potential buyer for your home is just like you, and that they will fall in love with it for the same reasons you did. That isn't always the case, though. Don't turn down a good offer because the buyer doesn't match your vision of your home's new owner. Instead, try to be practical and look at the numbers and offer terms instead.
7. Try To Be Flexible in Negotiating
Negotiations for the sale of a home are rarely simple. Dealing with the buyer's requests, whether they are repair requests following an inspection, an inconvenient closing date, or requests that certain furniture or appliances be included in the sale, is one of the most stressful aspects of selling. Consider it a give-and-take situation. Being flexible will help you in closing a deal.
8. Focus on the Future
What is the best advice for ending any relationship, including one with your home? Focus on the future. You're probably on your way to bigger and better things. So dare to dream big. Begin to imagine yourself in your new home. Make a layout plan for your furniture. Use paint colors, fabrics, and artwork to create a vision board. Make every effort to fall head over heels in love with your new home.
9. Make Sure You Find a Real Estate Agent You Like
It's one thing to choose a Waterloo real estate agent based on their marketing or their sales numbers - and those things ARE important, but do you actually like them? During the home selling process, you will be dealing with them a lot, so if you don't think you'll be able to get on with them then an already difficult process will get even harder.
This is why a face-to-face meeting with the real estate agent you are considering working with - even if it has to be just a Zoom call or two right now - is an absolute must.
Planning to buy or sell a home in the Waterloo Region but have questions? Why not speak with an expert? Contact the award-winning Team Pinto here, or book a free Zoom consultation to discuss your unique Waterloo Region real estate needs here.