Selling your home is a big process. From preparing your home to get the best offer to choosing the right time to list to what kinds of issues you should disclose to potential buyers, it’s important to know which questions to ask and what you need to do to be prepared. Whether this is the very first time you are selling a home or you have done this a dozen times, each home is different which means each selling process will be as well. If you’re going to sell your home, you need to be prepared and understand how the process works. Fortunately, we have rounded up our most common seller questions for you to think about.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO SELL MY HOME?

Though every real estate market is different, in most cases the spring months are the best time to sell your home. Which spring months are most ideal vary from community to community, but as home buyers come out of the cold winter and spring blooms start to pop up, buyers are eager and ready to dive into the house hunt.

Remember though, every real estate market is different. Maybe the weather isn’t a deterrent because you live in sunny San Diego. Maybe the winter is unusually long and the weather doesn’t warm until June. There are certain to be varying times throughout the country that are most popular for a community and region. Make sure you speak with your local real estate agent to put your home on the market at the best possible time.

WHAT STEPS SHOULD I TAKE TO PREPARE MY HOME FOR SALE?

The expression “You never get a second chance to make a first impression” is absolutely true when it comes to selling a home. Start with the photos. The photos of your home online are likely the first impression that a potential seller will get. Make them count! Be sure to use high-quality photos for your listing, give your entire home a serious cleaning, and eliminate as much clutter as possible. Consider taking appliances off your counter, clearing off desks, and even emptying over-packed closets.

Another big impact but more time-consuming way to make your home shine is with fresh paint or new carpet. Just be sure to choose colors that aren’t overwhelming and will appeal to a wide range of sellers.

Finally, taking care to keep your home in tip-top shape during showings is just as important as the photos they see. Make sure clutter stays put away, there are no odors, floors and cabinets are cleaned, and your landscaping is tidy.

WHAT SHOULD I DISCLOSE TO POTENTIAL BUYERS?

Does your basement regularly flood? Have problems with ants or other pests? Are there things about your home you want to keep hidden? When selling a home, it is important to disclose to potential buyers any issues you are aware of in your home. It might feel discouraging or frustrating to air your home’s flaws, but in the long run, being upfront about any issues will help you sell your home.

If you’re aware of defects, try to fix them before you put your home on the market whenever possible. This can avoid potential issues and even lawsuits once your home is under contract. If you aren’t sure about a potential problem, it’s never a bad idea to have a professional come and inspect the area or system in question to give you confidence that you are good to go or help you understand what kind of work you need to do. So get that handyman scheduled or call in the relevant professional, taking care of your home before you list it is a very important step in preparing to sell.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A LIST PRICE AND SALE PRICE?

Real estate lingo can get tricky. Luckily the difference between list price and sale price is pretty simple. The list price is the price a home is currently listed for sale at. The sale price is the price the home actually sold at. This could be over list price due to a bidding war, or under list price due to repairs or

negotiations that were made while under contract. A good realtor should be able to suggest that a list price ends up being very close to the final sale price.

SHOULD I PRICE MY HOME HIGHER TO LEAVE ROOM FOR NEGOTIATIONS?

Choosing the price you should list your home at is a big decision. You may feel tempted to list it higher than it is worth to test the market or to feel confident you will get a good price even after negotiations. However, there is really no

need to do this. Today’s home buyers are very well educated, giving them the upper hand in determining if you are overpricing your property. A seller who prices their home high to leave room for negotiations runs the risk of costing them more money than if they price it to reflect the suggested market value. So listen to your realtor and stay close to the market value. It will pay off in the end!

Well, there you have it. Your biggest questions about selling your home have been answered. As you begin the process of preparing to sell, it is important to choose a realtor who both knows what they are doing and is going to be easy to work with during the process. Take some time to look up questions to ask a potential realtor during an interview to ensure you find someone who fits your needs and expectations. Having a good realtor on your side should reduce the number of questions you have as you navigate selling your home. They will be able to address many of these frequently asked questions with even more precision based on your specific housing market.