Selling a Home in Louisville

When it comes time to sell your home, it can feel like there are endless things to take care of even before your home goes on the market. The first step is to take a deep breath and organize yourself, approaching each step individually. Work with your agent — they have been through this before — and stay open to recommendations.

By starting as soon as possible by thinking about how to put forward the best aspects of your home, you can reduce the stress of selling and ensure your home is ready when the right buyer comes along.

An appraisal is the most reliable way to estimate your home's value accurately. When selling a home in Louisville, your real estate agent will have recent data on the local housing market and current sale prices of homes similar to yours. An up-to-date appraisal can help you, and your agent, arrive at a listing price you are both comfortable with.

 

It is common for sellers to go into selling a home with expectations based on friends' experiences or outdated information. Talk with your agent and ensure you understand all the factors affecting a recommended listing price.

 

You do not have to wait until you are about to put your home on the market before you start thinking about how you will present it to potential buyers. A quality real estate agent will have plenty of input for staging your home, from how you present each room to minor improvements. However, as soon as you know you want to put your house on the market, you can start identifying repairs or renovations.

When determining the best time to sell a home in Louisville or anywhere else in Boulder County, there are more factors to consider than just whether the market is strong right now. Nationwide, April tends to be the best month for selling a home, and April home sales in this area still typically fetch higher prices than others.

 

Even in a seller's market, when homes are listed and sold in a week or less, spring is likely still a better time to get the best price for your home, but the best input you can have on when to sell your home will always be from an agent who knows the local market.

 

If you have ever bought or sold a home, you have likely heard of the multiple listing service (MLS). Any agent will tell you it’s best to list your home on the MLS. The MLS provides information for buyers' agents trying to find the perfect home for their clients, and having a good MLS listing ensures that your home gets noticed by the people who need to see it.

 

The MLS is a detail that your real estate agent can address, but it is good to ask questions and discuss how your home will be listed with your agent. As with all aspects of selling a home in Louisville, open communication with your agent can avoid surprises and ensure that your agent has all the information needed to sell your home quickly and at the best price.

 

Once you have put in all the effort to have your home ready for showings, it is also an excellent time to schedule with your agent for photos or shoot a virtual tour. Your home is already set up to be seen, so let potential buyers get that positive first impression before they ever set foot in your home.

 

Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many homebuyers became familiar and comfortable with shopping for homes online. As a result, even potential buyers who still want to take a look in person will take their first impression from how you present your home in listings. Take advantage of this opportunity to highlight critical aspects of your home and present views that will make potential buyers want to come to see the home for themselves.

The time it takes a home to sell can vary significantly. Just because a friend sold their home in a week several months ago does not mean yours will go as fast. Timing is essential — the time of year and the current market will significantly affect how quickly your home sells.

 

That said, a fast sale is not always the best option, and sometimes waiting to put your home on the market will get you a higher sale price. It is vital to have an agent you can trust to give you the best advice and discuss your objectives and needs for selling your home.

The digital age has empowered homeowners to take the "do-it-yourself" approach to everything from home repairs to home selling. When making as much from selling a home in Louisville as possible, saving on commission can tempt sellers to try to do it all themselves.

 

However, a quality real estate agent brings more than their extensive selling experience. The right agent provides access to listing services and a stable of vetted professionals — such as stagers and trusted contractors. Your agent can also provide perspective on what buyers will notice about your home that you may not.

Anyone who has ever bought something that claims "one size fits all" knows the fit is unlikely to be good. The same goes for real estate. When you want to sell your home and ensure the best results, you need an approach tailored to your home and your needs. Reach out to Nina Mooney, who knows Boulder County and Louisville real estate. Nina and her team are always ready to move forward with your home sale.

_{*Header photo courtesy of Shutterstock}