Ready, Set……..SOLD!

In today’s fast-paced Seller’s market, properties appear to fly off the market. If you’ve been tracking real estate, you’ve seen homes selling in a matter of days. And, at prices often over list price. It’s easy to believe that selling a home is easy. After all, don’t you just have to sign some paperwork, put up a sign, and presto, your home sells?

Getting Ready for Market

Not so fast. Yes, once a property hits the market, it’s likely to sell quickly if it shows well, is priced properly, and is marketed correctly. But, what you may not know is that it takes a lot of work to get a home ready for the market. Even if your home is in great condition, there are still some things that likely need to occur pre-market debut.    Recently, I sold a house that received 12 offers right out of the starting gate. It promptly went into escrow and also had a strong back-up offer. It closed on time and everything went smoothly. Both Sellers and Buyers are happy.  Ecstatic, actually.

Selling is a Marathon

But, here’s the thing. The process prior to going on the market was a year-long process, which is not really all that uncommon. It often takes months for Sellers to arrive at a decision to sell and then several more months to prepare for market. Selling a home is not a sprint. It’s more like a marathon. So, even if it appears easy, it isn’t. You can ask my clients who received 12 offers. Long before their home was on the market, we were engaged in conversations about the process. We analyzed the market, developed a strategy to help us arrive at their preferred outcome, and we worked together to get the house ready. Repairs. Painting. Cleaning. Decluttering. Housework. Yard work. Staging work. Photo work. And, of course, paperwork. Lots of paperwork.

A Realtor Helps Your Navigate it All

The next time you see a home fly off the market, just know that it was probably on the runway preparing for take-off for a while. Just like pilots who have before takeoff checklists, you need to make sure you have a before-market checklist. The good news is that your Realtor is there to help you navigate. A good Realtor will know exactly what needs to be on your checklist and can make sure that all items are checked and ready to go before your home hits the market. Everything from researching the tax office records and the building permits, to ordering a preliminary title report, to arranging for repairs, pre-inspections, staging, and photography, can all be handled by your Realtor. You’ll need to do some work, too. It won’t be easy. But, with a strong team of professionals, you and your home can be….Ready.Set.Sold.