Once you’ve gone through the process of purchasing your first property, the idea of selling a home may be the last thing on your mind. However, very few people live in the same house for their entire lives. From having children to relocating for work, there are many reasons why you might need to sell your first house and find a new place. Here are a few tips for selling a home for first-timers:
● Decide whether you’re going to buy or sell first. The decision to buy or sell can be tricky, and it depends on your personal situation. If you decide to buy another home before selling, you’ll have to sell your first house quickly, perhaps losing money in the deal. However, if you sell first, you might wind up settling for a second home that doesn’t have all the features you wanted or renting an apartment for a while as you continue to look, forcing you to move twice.
● Let go of the emotional attachment. Of course you’re going to be attached to your first home – after all, you chose this house over many others in the area and have settled in. In order to sell, you’ll need to be objective. You may love the bright blue bedroom, but you’ll probably have to repaint for the open house. A lingering emotional attachment may cause you to overprice the property, leaving it to sit on the market for months.
● Plan ahead for the open house. Even if you’re not holding an open house for a while, use it as an excuse to start paring down your belongings and packing things away. This will help you relinquish your attachment to the home and will also make moving easier.
● Start making little changes and upgrades to the home. Depending on your timeline, you may have months to make upgrades or just weeks. Whatever the case may be, it’s important to take the time to make the minor changes that can help your property sell. Simple things like repainting the walls in neutral tones and replacing broken fixtures and light switches can make a big difference. Consider your time in the home: what minor things annoyed you? Fix them before the open house.
Selling a home is always an odyssey, but selling your first home is challenging in a different way. Because you don’t have experience selling a home, you should consider working with a real estate agent – not only can they help you sell your house much more quickly, they’ll have an objective eye, and that may help you with letting go.
