Ready to sell your home? Here's what you can do to get the best price

Talk to a good real estate agent

It’s entirely possible to sell your home yourself, but with the markets quickly changing, you’ll likely want to work with a real estate agent who knows your area. Instead of using the first real estate agent you come across, or the family member who sells real estate part-time, look for someone dedicated to the profession. You want someone who can walk you through the steps of selling your home and will provide you with current market information.

Since the sale of your home will be a significant transaction, you’ll want to interview a few different real estate agents to ensure there’s a good fit. Ask them about their plan to sell your home and what the process will be like.

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Be realistic about your expectations

After selecting a real estate agent, it’s important to have a candid discussion about what you can realistically expect from the selling process. As the market gradually gains momentum, many buyers may hesitate to make top offers or may hold off entirely. This could result in fewer showings, so maintaining patience is crucial.

When it comes to offers, it’s essential to manage your expectations. If you’re hoping for a record-breaking sale price in your neighborhood, you might end up disappointed. Your agent can provide a realistic estimate of what your home is likely to sell for, but even this is not guaranteed. It’s wise to determine a minimum price you’re willing to accept beforehand.

Additionally, don’t be surprised if buyers include financing and home inspection contingencies in their offers. While this may frustrate sellers hoping for clean, unconditional offers, it reflects a more cautious approach from buyers in the current market.

Consider a home inspection

Instead of waiting for offers to come up with a home inspection clause, you could hire a home inspector yourself to give your property a lookover. By doing this, you’ll have an up-to-date report of the condition of your home. Some potential buyers may feel much better about making an offer if there’s a recent home inspection report they can review. Plus, it’ll save a potential buyer the time and money of doing a home inspection, which could make your home more appealing.

Another advantage of getting a home inspection done is that it’ll flag any minor and major issues. Once you’ve seen the report, you can decide if anything is worth fixing right away. If you make any fixes, they may potentially increase your property value or the interest in your home.

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Declutter and depersonalize

Although the markets have slowed down, there is still a demand for real estate. The properties that sell quickly are in good condition and look inviting. To give yourself an advantage, declutter all the living areas. Deep cleaning is just the start. You’ll also want to remove any excess furniture and personal belongings. You might as well donate or sell anything you don’t need during this process. Potential buyers want to imagine their possessions and themselves in the space, a cluttered area gets in the way of that.

Depersonalizing your space can also help. Buyers want to envision themselves living in properties that they’re viewing. While there’s nothing wrong with having family photos in your own home, they can distract potential buyers. Takedown any personal items or bold artwork and replace them with neutral art. You want buyers to think they have a blank canvas to work with.

Do some minor updates

Sometimes, a few minor cosmetic changes and upgrades can significantly impact your home’s appeal. Start with painting your walls a neutral colour and changing your lightbulbs or replacing your lighting fixtures. You could also clean up any scuff marks and patch up any cracks or holes in the drywall. These are quick and cheap ways to make your home brighter and more inviting.

If you really wanted to try and push up the resale value, you could install new floors, resurface your kitchen cabinets, or even plant bright flowers in your front yard. These updates come with a cost, so speak with your real estate agent to ensure that these expenses will pay off. The last thing you want is to waste money on upgrades that won’t improve your resale value.

Get some additional professional help

Buyers browsing online will naturally be attracted to homes with good photos, so hire a professional. Some sellers may argue their real estate agent can take pictures on their phone for free but is that really what you want in this market? You should put your home in the best position possible to sell. Buyers are turned off when poor-quality photos are used. Some may even assume that the home is in bad condition since so little effort was used for the pictures.

Another option is to stage your home. This is where your personal items will be removed and stored. New furniture and art will then be rented and used for showings. While staging can be expensive, it’s another step that could be worth it if it helps increase your selling price.

You should talk to your real estate agent about your selling strategy. It’s no longer realistic to expect a bidding war or for your home to sell in just a few days. You need to make sure your home is priced appropriately, and you’re willing to take what’s offered. If you’re expecting a much higher number, you could potentially watch your home sit on the market while prices continue to drop.