It’s no secret that the housing market is booming. Housing supply is low and competition among buyers is fierce.
While that bodes well for sellers, it doesn’t guarantee success. Making poor choices when you put your home on the market can still sabotage your sale. Fortunately, avoiding big mistakes is easy.
Here are the five things every seller should consider before listing their Texas home to ensure a smooth and successful sale.
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Choosing the Right Renovation Projects Can Give You an Edge
When preparing to list their homes, many sellers choose to tackle last-minute renovation projects. They hope that this will give them an edge over the competition and help their houses catch buyers’ eyes. In some cases, it does.
For example, more than 60 percent of buyers will pay extra for homes with:
- Central air conditioning
- New kitchen appliances
- Walk-in closets
On the other hand, projects like overhauling a master bedroom are unlikely to bring in the return on investment a seller expects. Before investing in any renovations, talk to a realtor to find out what projects are delivering the highest returns in your area.
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When You List Your House Matters
Traditionally, spring and summer are the busiest times of year for real estate. This means that sellers who list their homes during these seasons can expect to garner the most buyer interest. They also stand the best chance of being able to take advantage of competition among buyers to net the best price.
As such, it is in your best interest to list and sell your home during these seasons if you can.
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You Can’t Sell Your Texas Home Until You Get Your Documents in Order
Selling your home is a paperwork-intensive process. Most sellers underestimate the number and variety of documents they will need to list and sell their homes. Speed up and streamline your sale by gathering:
- Any documents you have from when you purchased the home
- All the home repair and maintenance records you have from your time as the owner of the home
- A copy of your homeowners’ insurance policy
- Any Homeowners’ Association documentation you have
- Any warranties and manuals you have for utilities and appliances that will stay with the home
This can give you and your realtor a powerful headstart on the sale process.
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Pricing Your Home Yourself Is a Recipe for Disaster
Pricing your home correctly is key to a strong and successful sale. But setting the right price is complicated. A wide range of factors must be accounted for and small details can make a big difference.
Don’t risk ruining your shot at a strong sale. Work with your realtor to determine the best price for your home when listing.
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Failure to Disclose Can Kill Your Sale
Unlike some states, Texas doesn’t require you to disclose if your house is haunted. It does, however, require you to inform potential buyers of known physical defects and to honestly answer buyers’ and realtors’ questions.
If you lie or withhold information, courts may reverse the sale even after closing. To protect yourself and your sale, take care to always be truthful and upfront at each step of the process.
Learn More
Learn more about how to buy, care for, and sell your Texas home by checking out our Tools and Home Improvement articles today!
