Selling a house is an endeavor of its own. Aside from choosing the best time to sell, you also need to do plenty of market research, pre-listing preparations, and numerous marketing strategies to maximize your home’s appeal. Anyone who plans on selling a house this coming housing season should know exactly what to expect. Fortunately, this guide contains everything you need to know about selling a house in Fort Lauderdale, so be sure to read on if you’re hoping to sell this season.
Work with the best real estate agent
The best method for selling a house is by hiring a real estate agent who specializes in the area. Real estate agents are equipped with various valuable resources and skills, such as access to the
multiple listing service (MLS), a professional network of other agents and contractors, marketing and negotiation skills, and data for the latest market trends. They can help you price your home, pick the best time to sell, and negotiate with the buyer’s agent to secure the best possible deal.
Once you’ve decided to work with an agent, find one who shares your values, listens to your priorities, and advocates for your best interests. For instance, Freebird Real Estate operates on the principle that home selling should be a fun and rewarding experience. Sellers appreciate their unique approach to marketing and open houses, including private showings. In an industry where every agent has access to the same data, working with an agent who makes your search personal is imperative.
Research the market to determine your asking price
Before you list your home on the market, you need to determine a reasonable asking price. To that end, try putting your address into Freebird Real Estate’s
home valuation tool. This simple interface will give you an accurate estimate of your house’s market value. You and your agent can work from there to determine the optimal asking price.
You don’t want to set a price that’s too high or too low – both will likely deter buyers for opposite reasons. You should also remember that what you ask for isn’t necessarily what you’ll get. For the best estimation, look at comparable properties and their asking prices, how long they’ve been on the market, and the unique amenities they offer. Your agent is another excellent resource for setting a reasonable price.
Prepare and market your home for sale
Once you’ve set a price, it’s time to prepare your home. Your agent should have your back throughout preparation and marketing, ensuring attention to every detail.
Clean and stage your home
The first step to preparing your home is to clean it from top to bottom, inside and out. Leave no stone unturned. Even if you think people won’t notice the dust on the wall behind the toilet, clean it anyway. Your home should be spotless and look as good as new. Be sure to tidy up the exterior and trim the lawn as well.
Once your home is clean, it’s time to stage it. Home staging utilizes space and furniture to showcase the best aspects of your home, thereby strengthening its potential. A properly staged home allows buyers to imagine themselves redecorating the space as they see fit.
Enhance your curb appeal
Curb appeal is the first thing buyers see when they look at your home in photos or from the street. Trim the lawn, clean the sidewalk, and store children’s toys and pet supplies. The windows, door, facade, and porch should be clean and inviting too.
Market your home privately
An agent might promise to spread the word about your listing as widely as possible through social media. But if you want your privacy kept, you will need to work with an agent who has other means at their disposal. Freebird Real Estate leverages its network to connect sellers of luxury homes, like you, with motivated buyers searching for high-end real estate in your area.
Optimize your sale with Nest by Curbio
Freebird Real Estate partners with Curbio to offer homeowners an exclusive “home refresh” program. Essentially, the
Nest by Curbio program contracts timely repairs or renovations to increase your overall net profit from the sale of your home. The idea is that move-in-ready homes attract more buyers.
Nest updates your house, preventing delays in the inspection process and minimizing demands on your time. It also gets results. According to Freebird Real Estate, the Nest program achieves a 113% return on investment (ROI) on average. All home improvements are coordinated by your dedicated project manager and accessible via the Nest by Curbio app. Crucially, you only pay at closing. With Nest, your house will shine at its best in marketing materials and in-person showings arranged by your trusted agent.
Review and negotiate your offers
Dedicate a day to sitting down with your realtor to assess the offers you’ve received. Your agent will advise you on the best offers based on your needs.
Top things to consider besides offer price
The offer you choose may not solely depend on the amount of money they offer. Here are other things to consider when reviewing multiple bids on your home:
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The financial strength. Is the buyer pre-approved? Are they offering earnest money on top of the base offer? Is it an all-cash offer? What type of loan do they have? Government-backed loans like VA and FHA loans may take longer to be approved.
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Consider the contingencies. Buyers almost always submit an offer and a set of special requests called contingencies. They might want to wait to sell their home before buying yours. Other common contingencies involve payments for repairs or closing costs. Too many contingencies and concessions may have you second-guess the offer, even if the money is good. You need to weigh your time, money, and even your emotions.
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Closing timelines. Is the buyer ready to move in, but you still need more time or vice versa? Sometimes buyers will let the current household stay for a few months or so to give them ample time to move out, but it’s not a guarantee. Take a look at each buyer’s closing timeline and consider the ones that best align with your tentative schedule.
Don’t forget seller closing costs
Closing costs are a set of additional fees that both buyers and sellers have to pay upon the completion of a transaction, but the actual fees vary between buyer and seller. Seller closing costs include commissions for both realtors, attorney fees, wire fees, prorated property taxes, excise tax, and title transfer fees.
Accept an offer and close the deal
Once you’ve accepted the offer, set a move-out date and pick a closing day. Closing day is when you officially sign over ownership to the new owner, accept payment, and take care of any other business, such as transferring cable and internet services. Anything that’s under your address should be changed to reflect your new address.
Find a trusted real estate agent
The first step should always be to find a reliable real estate agent with plenty of experience in the area. For an elite team of experts in the South Florida region, you can’t go wrong with
Freebird Real Estate. Specializing in over a dozen
neighborhoods from Fort Lauderdale to Miami, Freebird Real Estate can help sell your home for the best possible value with minimal stress. See which South Florida neighborhood matches your lifestyle by completing their short quiz, found
here, and let the team help you with your real estate goals today!
