There are many important factors to consider when selling your home in San Francisco, all of which can affect the sales price, as well as how long your home takes to sell. It almost goes without saying: San Francisco real estate is a great investment, and most sellers find, with good planning, that they sell for a substantial amount more than they paid.
Just like everything in life, there are things you can control, and things you can’t. As much as you might want to, for example, it is impossible to control how your neighbor’s yard looks. While you can’t fix their mistakes, you can definitely influence the outcome of your home’s sale price. This guide will help you avoid making costly and unnecessary mistakes that might reduce the value of your home.
While the idea of saving money by selling without a San Francisco Realtor can be tempting, doing this may be a very costly mistake in the end. While you may believe you know exactly how much your home is worth, a San Francisco real estate agent will be able to give you a solid estimate of your home’s value based on other homes in your area with similar square footage and amenities. When trying to sell on your own, there are many variables that are best managed by an experienced professional. For example, you might misjudge how long it will take to sell your home, leading to frustration or lowering the price too rapidly. A good San Francisco Realtor can tell you the approximate length of time it takes for homes in your neighborhood to sell, giving you to have reasonable expectations.
Finally, selling on your own can cause legal problems if not done properly. If you sell your house without proper legal verbiage, especially if there are tenants involved, on the sales contract, there is the potential for tenants or new owners to bring you to court for issues they believe should have been taken care of before the sale closed. Experienced San Francisco Realtors like Danielle Lazier :: SFhotlist Team and Compass San Francisco will be able to provide you with a proper sales contract that spells out the fine details.
Not all San Francisco real estate agents are alike. In order for your sales process to be as stress-free as possible,you will want to find an agent that is the right fit for you. If you dread going to see your Realtor, then you'll be less likely to use their recommendations and tips, costing you money in the end. If you need to sell quickly, you're not going to be happy if your agent is only part-time, as they won't be able to properly dedicate the energy required to sell a house as fast as possible.
Investing in a San Francisco real estate Realtor who has years of experience with the San Francisco Bay Area real estate market will be a much better idea for you. Likewise, if you prefer minimal contact with your agent and they prefer to be contacted daily, that agent will not be a good fit for you. You don't want to resent your Realtor while they're working to make you money!
Interview several Realtors before making a decision, as the right fit can make or break a deal. They are trying to earn your business, so be selective. You deserve to hire the best fit for you and your home.
When you're selling your home, showcasing it in an optimal way to homebuyers is essential. Home buyers want to be able to imagine themselves in the house. Failure to properly invest in staging can cause home buyers to have a difficult time picturing their dream home, resulting in them buying elsewhere. The beat-up couch in the living room and stained curtains will not attract someone that wants to buy at list price. Cosmetic factors can often cause homebuyers to negotiate hard, potentially costing you thousands. And, in San Francisco’s dynamic real estate market, staging is what home buyers expect.
Choosing to work with an experienced San Francisco real estate agent when selling your home in San Francisco will streamline the staging process. It may seem inconvenient, but good local real estate agents have relationships with excellent stagers who will take care of all the details, including leveraging the furniture you have, and moving temporary furniture and fixtures in and out for you.
While trimming the shrubs and keeping the shutters looking nice is not something most people do for fun, the outside appearance of your home can cost you money if it does not look good. Just like the inside, cosmetic blemishes can cause more negotiating than you want to have when selling your home in San Francisco. Common mistakes include letting the garden grow wild, not updating the front door, leaving toys or tools in plain sight, and not fixing obvious problems in the driveway or walkways.
If you have a tree in the front yard or sidewalk, a common mistake is letting it grow too wild and not trimming it down. This is the perfect time to make your home look amazing, which will help it sell at a price you're willing to accept. Again, this is an area where experienced local real estate agents are invaluable because of the relationships they have with high quality, professional landscapers, painters, and more.
Even during a seller’s market, it is important not to rush the sales process. Rushing the home-selling process can cause you to accept a lower amount than you really wanted, potentially costing you tens of thousands of dollars — or more.
While it may be tempting to jump at the first offer you receive, you could be missing an opportunity for a better offer. It is common to want to sell rapidly, but this is not the time to expect a quick fix. Not taking the time to properly prepare your home by cleaning and staging or replacing items because you want to get out fast will only cause you to be in the home-selling process for longer. Working with an experienced San Francisco Realtor who can guide you through the process when selling your home in San Francisco will allow you to achieve a sale in a timely manner that also provides you with the best return on investment.
Selling your home in San Francisco can seem like a daunting process, but it does not have to be that way. The five mistakes listed here are easily corrected and easy to avoid when working with a qualified real estate agent. When you are ready to sell, reach out to Danielle Lazier :: SFhotlist Team and Compass San Francisco — we have a history of 5-Star success and know the area well.
