Sellers Guide

Guide for Sellers

RE/MAX Executive in the Carolinas

Selling Your Home

Selling your home is a multifaceted journey, involving everything from property preparation and effective marketing to intricate negotiations and detailed paperwork. Whether you’re ready to start the selling process now or are just planning for the future, this guide serves as the perfect starting point to navigate the complexities with confidence.

Selling Your Home

Selling your home is a multifaceted journey, involving everything from property preparation and effective marketing to intricate negotiations and detailed paperwork. Whether you’re ready to start the selling process now or are just planning for the future, this guide serves as the perfect starting point to navigate the complexities with confidence.

The Right Agent

Selecting the right agent is crucial for a smooth and successful home-selling experience. Partnering with a RE/MAX Executive agent provides you with access to up-to-date market information and a vast network of connections to effectively price, promote, and sell your home. Avoid getting overwhelmed by the complexities of the real estate market with its ever-changing rules and paperwork. Visit Our Agents page to find a RE/MAX Executive agent in your area and make your home-selling journey seamless.
RE/MAX Executive Agents

The Right Agent

Selecting the right agent is crucial for a smooth and successful home-selling experience. Partnering with a RE/MAX Executive agent provides you with access to up-to-date market information and a vast network of connections to effectively price, promote, and sell your home. Avoid getting overwhelmed by the complexities of the real estate market with its ever-changing rules and paperwork. Visit Our Agents page to find a RE/MAX Executive agent in your area and make your home-selling journey seamless.

Seller Do’s and Don’ts

Selling a home is a significant financial and emotional undertaking that requires careful planning and strategic decision-making. Whether you’re a first-time seller or a seasoned homeowner, understanding the key do’s and don’ts can make the difference between a smooth, successful sale and a stressful, drawn-out process. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to take—and the pitfalls to avoid—ensuring that you maximize your home’s value and minimize potential headaches along the way.
Young couple looking at tablet

Seller Do’s and Don’ts

Selling a home is a significant financial and emotional undertaking that requires careful planning and strategic decision-making. Whether you’re a first-time seller or a seasoned homeowner, understanding the key do’s and don’ts can make the difference between a smooth, successful sale and a stressful, drawn-out process. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to take—and the pitfalls to avoid—ensuring that you maximize your home’s value and minimize potential headaches along the way.

Seller Do’s

Financially Prepare

Discuss all expenses and strategies for listing and marketing your home with your agent. Remember, the rate you pay an agent is negotiable, so consider the options and what it means for your bottom line. However, be wary of deep discounts—more deals may mean an agent has less experience. A RE/MAX Executive agent will be upfront and highly detailed, helping you make confident and well-informed decisions.

Clear Out & Clean Up

You want potential buyers to imagine your house as their own, so clear out the clutter. Remove excess home décor, pack up the collectibles, put away the kids’ toys, and eliminate pet evidence (unless your home includes a pet amenity like a dog washing station). Additionally, clean everything from the baseboards to the ceilings and every spot in between. Keep the house at a comfortable room temperature and avoid strongly scented air-fresheners.

Update & Upkeep

Impress house-hunters with simple yet visually appealing updates. Inside, consider swapping out old light fixtures, painting the walls a light neutral color with white trim, and replacing older carpets with new hard flooring. Outside, remember to trim bushes and trees, pull weeds, keep the grass cut or the driveway shoveled, and add greenery and flowers for a flattering first impression.

Organize & Categorize

Arrange furnishings to complement the size, traffic flow, and natural light of the room. If you’re unsure, consult a professional stager. Also, organize all your paperwork, including inspection reports, property disclosures, and appliance manuals. Categorize them in an easy-to-access binder for quick reference. A RE/MAX Executive agent can help with all these details.

Respect & Respond

Stay open to professionals’ (appraiser, inspector, stager, etc.) opinions on what changes can be made to make your home more broadly appealing. Don’t be offended by a low offer; instead, discuss a plan with your agent to respond to the buyer. You’ll likely let them know the offer was too low but that you are serious about accepting a better one.

mid century den with bookshelves

Seller Do’s

Financially Prepare

Discuss all expenses and strategies for listing and marketing your home with your agent. Remember, the rate you pay an agent is negotiable, so consider the options and what it means for your bottom line. However, be wary of deep discounts—more deals may mean an agent has less experience. A RE/MAX Executive agent will be upfront and highly detailed, helping you make confident and well-informed decisions.

Clear Out & Clean Up

You want potential buyers to imagine your house as their own, so clear out the clutter. Remove excess home décor, pack up the collectibles, put away the kids’ toys, and eliminate pet evidence (unless your home includes a pet amenity like a dog washing station). Additionally, clean everything from the baseboards to the ceilings and every spot in between. Keep the house at a comfortable room temperature and avoid strongly scented air-fresheners.

Update & Upkeep

Impress house-hunters with simple yet visually appealing updates. Inside, consider swapping out old light fixtures, painting the walls a light neutral color with white trim, and replacing older carpets with new hard flooring. Outside, remember to trim bushes and trees, pull weeds, keep the grass cut or the driveway shoveled, and add greenery and flowers for a flattering first impression.

Organize & Categorize

Arrange furnishings to complement the size, traffic flow, and natural light of the room. If you’re unsure, consult a professional stager. Also, organize all your paperwork, including inspection reports, property disclosures, and appliance manuals. Categorize them in an easy-to-access binder for quick reference. A RE/MAX Executive agent can help with all these details.

Respect & Respond

Stay open to professionals’ (appraiser, inspector, stager, etc.) opinions on what changes can be made to make your home more broadly appealing. Don’t be offended by a low offer; instead, discuss a plan with your agent to respond to the buyer. You’ll likely let them know the offer was too low but that you are serious about accepting a better one.

Seller Don’ts

Fall Behind

Selling your house is hard work, but it’s important to stay up-to-date on your responsibilities. Once you find a buyer, continue caring for the property as well as paying your mortgage and utility bills so you don’t have extra costs to cover at closing.

Get Impatient

The time it takes to sell a home varies based on market conditions, and you may start to feel antsy. However, no matter how fast or slow the sale of your house moves, avoid entering into negotiations with buyers who aren’t pre-approved for a mortgage. Also, listen to your agent and set the price according to market conditions. Pricing it too high can keep it on the market and make it appear unattractive, flawed, or stale.

Hide or Hover

Your home needs to be ready when buyers are. So, it’s best not to request a 24-hour notice or allow your phone or emails to go unanswered. Also, inform your agent of any audio and/or video equipment in and around the home, as local laws and rules may require action for home tours. Finally, make sure to leave during showings. Buyers appreciate space and may feel uncomfortable sharing their thoughts if you’re present. A good agent will share feedback from each tour to keep you informed.

Forget To Think Beyond the Sale

If you have an existing home to sell, you might anticipate excess funds after closing. But if you’re purchasing another home, it’s recommended to check in with your real estate agent and mortgage professional before acting. Life happens. You might need to replace a car, find a new loan, add to credit card balances, or pull from savings. A quick check-in can help you understand how these actions may impact your finances, so you can avoid unforeseen complications in the future.

Do It All or Leave It All

Working with a real estate agent can be invaluable. Why try to do it all when you can hire a professional agent with the experience and expertise to do it for you? However, when you hire a real estate agent, don’t leave it all up to them. You’ll have a number of personal responsibilities to manage to help make your homeselling experience successful.

Luxury living room setting

Seller Don’ts

Fall Behind

Selling your house is hard work, but it’s important to stay up-to-date on your responsibilities. Once you find a buyer, continue caring for the property as well as paying your mortgage and utility bills so you don’t have extra costs to cover at closing.

Get Impatient

The time it takes to sell a home varies based on market conditions, and you may start to feel antsy. However, no matter how fast or slow the sale of your house moves, avoid entering into negotiations with buyers who aren’t pre-approved for a mortgage. Also, listen to your agent and set the price according to market conditions. Pricing it too high can keep it on the market and make it appear unattractive, flawed, or stale.

Hide or Hover

Your home needs to be ready when buyers are. So, it’s best not to request a 24-hour notice or allow your phone or emails to go unanswered. Also, inform your agent of any audio and/or video equipment in and around the home, as local laws and rules may require action for home tours. Finally, make sure to leave during showings. Buyers appreciate space and may feel uncomfortable sharing their thoughts if you’re present. A good agent will share feedback from each tour to keep you informed.

Forget To Think Beyond the Sale

If you have an existing home to sell, you might anticipate excess funds after closing. But if you’re purchasing another home, it’s recommended to check in with your real estate agent and mortgage professional before acting. Life happens. You might need to replace a car, find a new loan, add to credit card balances, or pull from savings. A quick check-in can help you understand how these actions may impact your finances, so you can avoid unforeseen complications in the future.

Do It All or Leave It All

Working with a real estate agent can be invaluable. Why try to do it all when you can hire a professional agent with the experience and expertise to do it for you? However, when you hire a real estate agent, don’t leave it all up to them. You’ll have a number of personal responsibilities to manage to help make your homeselling experience successful.

Preparing Your Home for Listing

Organize Your Space

When getting your house ready for the market, organizing your space is essential. A helpful strategy is to sort your belongings into three categories: Pack It, Donate It, and Junk It.

Pack It

For items you want to keep but don’t need right away, consider using portable storage containers. These containers can be rented monthly and offer a convenient alternative to traditional storage units. Simply search online for “portable storage and moving containers.” The container will be delivered to your home, and once packed, it will be picked up and stored until you’re ready to access it again or have it delivered to your new home.

Donate It

For items you wish to donate, many charities now offer scheduled donation pick-ups. Visit the website of your preferred charity to find out when they’ll be in your neighborhood for collection.

Junk It

For items that need to be disposed of, ensure they are eligible for disposal. Some materials require special recycling or disposal methods. Check your municipality’s website for guidelines on how to properly and affordably dispose of specific items. If you have a significant amount of junk, consider renting a dumpster for easy and efficient removal.

Organize Your Space

When getting your house ready for the market, organizing your space is essential. A helpful strategy is to sort your belongings into three categories: Pack It, Donate It, and Junk It.

Pack It

For items you want to keep but don’t need right away, consider using portable storage containers. These containers can be rented monthly and offer a convenient alternative to traditional storage units. Simply search online for “portable storage and moving containers.” The container will be delivered to your home, and once packed, it will be picked up and stored until you’re ready to access it again or have it delivered to your new home.

Donate It

For items you wish to donate, many charities now offer scheduled donation pick-ups. Visit the website of your preferred charity to find out when they’ll be in your neighborhood for collection.

Junk It

For items that need to be disposed of, ensure they are eligible for disposal. Some materials require special recycling or disposal methods. Check your municipality’s website for guidelines on how to properly and affordably dispose of specific items. If you have a significant amount of junk, consider renting a dumpster for easy and efficient removal.