Your Complete West Seattle Sellers Guide

Are you considering relocating and listing your West Seattle home for sale? Selling a home can be an extensive and stressful process with many variables to consider, such as choosing the right timing to enter the market and perfecting your home for staging. Fortunately, this guide can help. Read on for a complete checklist to make the home-selling process as smooth as possible.

You should consider getting a pre-inspection before listing your home for sale. A pre-inspection will determine the home's condition and whether it is safe to live in. You must work with an experienced home inspector who will inspect your property and check various components, such as the HVAC, electrical systems, roof, and foundation. Some common issues that many West Seattle homeowners experience include excessive basement moisture, old plumbing, and rotting wood. A pre-inspection can find all of these potentially problematic issues. You can then review the inspection report with an experienced West Seattle real estate agent to decide on your next steps.

Prospective buyers may be put off by a home listed too high or too low. If a home is listed too high, many buyers may decide not to look at it, as they will assume it is outside their price range. Conversely, when a home is listed too low, you risk selling for less than the property's value. To prevent either scenario, you must price your home competitively and fairly. The first step in calculating an accurate price for your home is to get your home appraised. This will determine the fair market value of your home. An experienced real estate agent will then use the home appraisal to compile a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). The purpose of a CMA is to compare your property against similar West Seattle luxury homes that have sold within the past three months. Your real estate agent will then recommend a comparable but competitive price so that your home will sell quickly.

It can often be difficult for buyers to know whether or not a home is right for them. As many as 82% of realtors have said that staging can help buyers visualize their future lives in a prospective home. Staging can help you create a well-cared-for and beautiful space that buyers will fall in love with. Plus, with professional staging, you can expect your home to spend 73% less time on the market and sell for 25% more.

A clean home looks well-maintained, fresh, and beautiful. Deep clean from top to bottom, then room to room. Vacuum the carpet, mop the floors, wash the windows, and dust the shelves. To save time, consider hiring a professional cleaning company, which will allow you more time to focus on decluttering and depersonalizing your space.

Most buyers don’t want to walk into a home that looks as if it’s been lived in. By decluttering and depersonalizing your home, you are providing buyers with a blank slate, allowing them plenty of opportunity to visualize themselves living in your home. Consider removing family photographs, certificates and awards, paperwork and bills, and other various personal belongings.

Curb appeal is very important; this will be one of the first areas potential buyers see when viewing your home. You want to make a great first impression, and in order to do that, you must ensure your home’s exterior and lawn is in good condition. Make sure to mow the lawn, trim hedges, wash any exterior windows, and power wash the driveway. Consider adding outdoor lights and make sure your house number is visible.

Photographs can often speak a thousand words. Hire a professional photographer with experience taking photos of luxury West Seattle houses. An experienced photographer knows what camera angles and filters to use to make your home stand out. In addition, homes that incorporate professional photographs in their listing can expect to sell up to 32% faster.

Your experienced real estate agent will list your home on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). The MLS is a comprehensive database of homes for sale, making it easier for sellers to reach buyers. By listing on the MLS, your home listing will be syndicated to other public listing sites.

After listing your home, you must consider how to reach your target demographic. There are several options, from single-property websites and social media pages to direct mailer campaigns. For West Seattle luxury homes that have many amenities, consider creating a single-property website to showcase them to buyers. Or, if your real estate agent already has an extensive list of potential buyers, then a direct email campaign might be a good option. Work with your real estate agent to determine how to market your West Seattle property.

From preliminary consultation to final closings, working with an industry expert who can guide you through every step of your home-selling journey is essential. Because the selling process involves so many factors, it can be easy to feel lost or stressed. However, by working with a real estate professional who has sold numerous West Seattle luxury homes, you can feel confident that your real estate transaction will go as seamlessly as possible.

Interested in selling your current property in West Seattle? Schedule a consultation with experienced real estate agent Mara Haveson and her team. They can provide expert guidance on everything from innovative marketing strategies to creative negotiation tactics. With proven results that garner an average of 30 million dollars in real estate sales annually, Mara and her skilled team can help you sell your home quickly and for top dollar!