SELL Your HOME

 BY NORA HESTON TARTE

The housing market has been a tumultuous one as of late, but the good news is we are starting to see balance. As interest rates come down, housing prices are also stabilizing, and we expect 2023 to be a busy year for those buying and selling homes.

While it is a good time to get into the game, selling your house will always come with its challenges. Luckily, the experts know how to help. With so much changing—and fast—just understanding the market and what price to list your home at can feel overwhelming. “It's important to have a good understanding of the current real estate market and the value of similar homes in your area to price your home competitively,” says Lance McHan, a Central Valley real estate agent.

As home prices stabilize, it’s even more important to get the most bang for your buck. Luckily, preparing your home for sale and marketing it well can help you find every penny that it’s worth. Lance suggests not only making necessary repairs before listing your home for sale, but also decluttering and investing in staging to help potential buyers envision themselves living there.

Marketing falls in the hands of your agent, so choosing the right one is important. “You want to ensure that your home is seen by as many potential buyers as possible through various marketing channels such as listings on real estate websites, open houses, and social media,” Lance says.

Once you’ve finished the difficult part and found a buyer, there are still a few more hoops to jump through. The paperwork is detailed and time consuming when selling your house, especially if you’re buying another home at the same time. “It's important to have a basic understanding of the process or work with a real estate agent who can guide you through it,” Lance says. With that comes several opportunities for flexibility in the offer. Once a buyer makes an offer, the home sale isn’t necessarily a done deal. In addition to the paperwork, you’ll need to consider closing costs and dates, rent back options, contingencies, and more.

Lucky for homebuyers, “a real estate agent can also help with this process,” Lance says. While prior knowledge is helpful, anything you don’t know about selling a home can be delegated to your agent.

LANCE MCHAN

(209) 986-9292

LanceMCH@gmail.com

LIC: #01987449