Been thinking of selling your home in the Piqua, Ohio area? Then the Kathy Henne Team is here to help! We want to make sure that your home-selling journey is as seamless and stress-free as possible, so we're more than happy to provide you with an in-depth breakdown on the steps to selling. If you're gearing up to list your home, here's what you can expect before, during, and after the process.
Before Listing Your Home
Before you list your home, there are a few things you should checkoff your to-do list.
2+ Months Out
Find an experienced local real estate agent
Finding the right agent is the key to starting your selling experience off on the right foot. We can help you make top dollar for your sale, and answer any and all of your questions along the way.
6 – 8 Weeks Out
Consider repairs and improvements
You're going to want to make sure that your home looks its best for buyers. We'll help you figure out which repairs and upgrades are smart for your property, and we'll also give you a few pointers on how to stage to impress. If you have any projects left on your to-do list, make sure to get them done now!
4 – 8 Weeks Out
Price it right
If you enlist the help of a good agent, then this shouldn't be a problem. We'll use local market data like neighborhood sold reports, research recently sold homes, and carefully take all upgrades in your home into account in order to find the most competitive and accurate price for your property.
1 – 4 Weeks Out
Get your home ready
Getting your home ready to sell is going to take some serious elbow grease. You'll need to clean like you've never cleaned before, and you may even consider enlisting the help of professional cleaners to get the job done. Buyers are going to be looking in every crack and corner of your home, so make sure you're thorough!
Listing Your Home
Finally, you're ready to put your home on the market! Here's what to expect once you do.
Marketing Your Home
Reach the greatest number of buyers
Selling a home has a lot to do with finding the right buyers, and a good agent will know how to do that. We'll use our tools, knowledge, and network to market your home to all potential buyers in the area and beyond, using everything from emails to social media posts to printed advertisements.
Showing Your Home
Let buyers take a tour
Buyers will almost always want to see your home before they make an offer, and some may even request more than one showing. You should keep your home organized, clean, and ready to show at all times, since you never know when buyers may want to drop in. You can talk to you agent and ask for a few hours of notice, but try to keep things in order to save yourself a little time and stress.
Dealing with Offers
Negotiate and accept an offer
If a buyer is serious about your home, they'll submit a written Purchase and Sale Agreement for you to look over. This usually details how much they'll pay, what they have to offer in earnest money, when they want to close, and any contingencies they request (like a home inspection or buyer financing). If you choose, you can either accept the agreement, reject it, or submit a counter offer (with different conditions like a modified number or date).
The Closing Process
Congrats! You've found a buyer, negotiated an offer, and now you're ready to move on to the next stage.
Home Inspections & Appraisals
Cooperate with the home inspection
Once you and the buyer have agreed on the terms, price, and closing date, they'll likely want to conduct a home inspection. During the inspection, a trained professional will walk through your home, looking for any faults, repairs, or areas of concern. If you fail to meet any of their requirements, the buyer may cancel the contract, ask for the funds necessary to fix the issues, or request that you take care of them before closing. This is why it's so important to finish all of those maintenance projects before listing!
Waiting in Escrow
Wait a bit, gather some paperwork, wait a bit more...
The next step is a bit of a waiting game. During this process, you and your agent will work with an escrow company (an impartial third party) to collect paperwork and go over finances. At the same time, the buyer will be taking care of their own paperwork and finances (including finalizing their loan).
Finally... the Close!
Sign, collect, & hand over your keys
On closing day, you, the buyer, your agents, and your legal teams or representatives will sit down and sign off on everything. After the paperwork has been completed, you'll likely be handed a hefty amount of money (minus anything left on your mortgage and any outstanding closing fees for you agent or legal counsel).
Ready to Sell Your Home in the Piqua Area?
If you're thinking of selling a home in the Piqua, OH area, then it's time to contact the Kathy Henne Team. These selling steps are just the beginning of what we have to offer, so explore some more of our resources, and see how we can make your selling journey as seamless and stress-free as possible!