How to Sell Your Home in a Way That Works For You

If you are planning on listing your West Loop home for sale, you want to begin your journey with research and planning on the front end. Below, you’ll learn about how you can develop a selling strategy that is specific to you and designed to meet your goals.

There are a few components that are important to think about here. Sellers often find that they can make more money when they put their home on the market during a specific time of year. According to the National Association of Realtors, the real estate scene is busiest during the late spring and summer. Buyers are more active from May through August for several reasons, including the end of the school year and the return of tax refunds. The market stays fairly busy through September before trailing off at the end of October, with the total number of sales during the “slow season” making up only 68% of the sales seen in the peak season. If you have some flexibility in your timeframe for selling, it’s best to target the summer months with the hope that you can maximize your profits.

It’s also essential to think about your current schedule and pace of life as you consider when you should sell. What is your typical work schedule like? When will you have the margin to focus significant time and energy on a home sale? If you want to ensure that the process is designed to work best for you, you’ll want to prioritize a time or season when it is most conducive for you to put your home on the market. Your agent will work with you to devise a solid selling strategy, no matter the season.

Some homeowners may choose to represent themselves during the selling process. FSBO (or “for sale by owner”) listings are becoming more popular, but most sellers find that the best option is to work with a trusted real estate agent who can partner with them in their sale. This is because it’s difficult to know how to effectively market, stage, and show a home if you don’t have much experience in the real estate industry. However, your agent can help with each of these tasks and streamline and simplify your selling journey.

As you think about who you’ll partner up with, reading online reviews from past clients is an excellent place to start. Don’t get too discouraged if you find that an agent has a few negative reviews to go with an overwhelming amount of positive reviews. This is normal for an agent who’s been working in the industry for some time.

Most agents will also agree to meet you in person even before the two of you officially agree to begin working together. This is a great time to ask about an agent’s qualifications, experience, and passion for buying and selling homes. During this meeting, you’ll also develop a better idea of how well the two of you connect. You’ll work closely with your agent during the selling process, and most people would rather work with someone they enjoy being around and get along well with.

Once you have decided when you’ll put your home on the market and who will help you sell your home, it’s time to outline what the entire process looks like. There are a number of components that go into selling a home. Here are a few of the most important.

Your real estate agent will run a Comparative Market Analysis for you that helps you determine what your home’s appraised value might be. They will also help you determine how the current state of the local market impacts the listing price you should choose for your home.

Some homeowners will order a pre-listing inspection before they put their home on the market. This can help you get ahead of any required repairs. In addition, many sellers will choose to make upgrades based on which projects tend to offer the most significant ROI. Your agent can provide guidance as to which renovations are most likely to pay off at the closing table, as they know what buyers are hoping to see.

Work with your real estate agent to determine how you’ll market your home to potential buyers. This includes your online marketing plan along with other important elements, such as putting up a “for sale” sign in your front yard and connecting with other real estate agents in the area. Your agent will work hard to connect your property with serious buyers.

Most agents will recommend hiring a professional photographer to come in and take photos of your home. These images can help your home command more attention from prospective buyers online. Before you take pictures or schedule private showings, consider how you can stage your home in a way that is both attractive and functional. Effective staging tactics set up an appealing, useful space that buyers feel connected to, with strategic furniture placement, coordinating decor, and high-quality design elements.

Not all sellers will host an open house when they sell their home. If you choose to have an open house, it’s a good idea to delegate this responsibility to your agent, who will professionally represent you during the tour and answer any questions your potential buyers have.

Your real estate agent will help you negotiate with prospective buyers after you begin receiving offers. They will advise you on using additional tools and tactics outside of the listing price to get the best possible deal for your home, such as contingencies. After you accept an offer, they will then walk you through the entire closing process, from inspection to appraisal and signing all necessary documents.

You can count on Armando Chacon and his expert team of real estate agents to help you sell your home successfully. The Armando Chacon Group knows the market inside and out, and they care deeply for each of their clients. They will work hard to ensure you receive the best possible offers when you put your home on the market, whether you’re selling a Lincoln Park or West Loop home. Reach out to their office if you have additional questions about the market or would like to begin your journey.