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Brent Housley | Railey Realty

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A Quick Guide to Selling Your Home

Thinking about selling your home? There’s never been a better time to list your property! Below is a quick overview of the steps that are involved with preparing, listing, and ultimately selling your home in Garrett County and around Deep Creek Lake. 

Preparing Your Home to Sell 

Prior to listing your home, you’ll need to make sure it’s ready to be professionally photographed and presentable for showings. One easy first step is to de-clutter! Take the time to thoroughly de-clutter and clean your home so that it will be easy for the buyer to focus on the home itself – not all of your belongings. You should also consider having your home professionally deep-cleaned to help it look it’s absolute best for the photos the photographer will take. Don’t forget – more than 90% of all homebuyers start their journey online! The pictures of your home are extremely important. It’s also recommended that you take the time to remove or tag any items in the home that may not convey with the sale of the property. While some furnishing may convey, often there will be special items or pieces of furniture that you may not want to part with. 

While you are ultimately trying to sell your home, sometimes it is a necessary step to spend the money for light repairs and improvement curb appeal. This can be as simple as making sure all light bulbs are working or a quick coat of paint to create neutral walls! Making sure the exterior of your home is clean goes a long way, too. Cleaning up the yard, pressure washing siding, cleaning windows, and keeping the grass cut all help make a great first impression for buyers. 

Pricing Strategy

No matter the market – whether it be buyers or sellers markets – pricing is always a key factor in listing your home. In addition to the comparative market analysis that will be completed on your property, showing exactly how similar homes that are active and have sold were priced, unique amenities and location are also big factors in price. Working with an experience and local agent means that your property’s particular attributes will not only be appreciated – but valued! This is very important for homes in the Deep Creek Lake area. 

Showings 

Once your property is listed – it’s time for showings! Using the BrightMLS integrated system – ShowingTime – showings are easier than ever for agents to schedule. If you live in your home full time, or use it as a vacation home often, you even have the ability to confirm or deny showing requests that are sent to you directly through text and/or email. It’s important that during showings, buyers feel welcome and unhurried. It’s usually best for you to vacate the home during the showing to allow the buyer and their agent to walk through the home without any pressure. 

Negotiations & Contract

Once an offer is placed on your property, contract negotiations begin. Of the many pieces of the contract to be considered, the most important are generally the purchase price, date of settlement, and any contingencies. Everything in the offer is negotiable – don’t forget! Until the contract is signed and fully ratified, you can negotiate aspects with the buyers through your agents to reach the best deal. In a multiple offer situation, your agent will help you look through each offer and decide which is the best option for you. 

Inspections

In most cases, there will be some form of inspection or appraisal for the home. In Maryland, the buyer’s or their lender have the option for who to choose to do certain inspections. You can rest assured that agents and lending institutions will only use licensed professionals! As contracts can be contingent on the outcome of the inspections or appraisal, these will all be completed in a timely manner and any issues will be presented for further negotiations if necessary. 

Closing 

On the day of closing, or the day prior, there will usually be a walk-through of the property by the buyer and their agent to ensure that any scheduled repairs have been done and that the home is as they viewed it previously. Prior to closing, you will receive a copy of your closing statements to review. Once at the closing table, all parties will sign the documents drafted by the closing attorney to complete the transaction. Today, many sellers are opting to close remotely, meaning you do not need to attend the closing in person.