Wellesley homes for sale

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We often get calls this time of year from people who are looking to sell their home at the height of the spring real estate market. To help you get started, I thought I’d share answers to frequently asked questions about selling your home.

Should I wait until spring to put my home on the market?

It really depends on your personal situation but all things being equal, it’s a good idea to list it as early as possible in the season. Despite the cold weather, home buyers are still out shopping, partly due to low interest rates.

Getting on the market earlier in the season also ensures that people who are relocating to the Boston area will see your home listing. Many of our clients who are planning to move to Boston for work have already started house hunting.

What advice do you have for interviewing realtors?

First, you’re paying this person a substantial amount of money to sell your home, so be sure they’re going to put the time and money into helping you sell it quickly for the best price. Ask them for a detailed marketing plan for selling your home and examples of their previous listings. For example, how will they market your home online? How will they reach the many international buyers who are coming to Boston? How will they encourage other realtors to show your home? This is a good first step for comparing realtors.

Second, be sure to choose someone who you’re comfortable with both personally and professionally. This is someone who’ll be coming into your home and consulting with you on one of the biggest financial transactions of your life, so having someone you can trust is important.

Third, talk with their previous clients to hear firsthand what they’re like to work with.

Will home staging help me to sell my home faster?

Beautiful staging can actually make quite an impact on the sale price and the number of days your home is on the market. However, not all staging vendors offer the same level of quality. When interviewing realtors, I’d recommend asking them if they offer free home staging consultations, and if so, ask them to share before and after photos of their work.

How long will it take you to get my home on the market once I sign a listing agreement?

Once your home is ready to be photographed, it only takes a matter of days to get it on the market. Tip: Ask your realtor if they will invest in professional photography to showcase your home. Exceptional photography is essential for selling real estate. Be sure to ask them to see samples of their previous listings to get an idea of how good their photography is.

Do you think open houses are worthwhile?

In a hot real estate market like we had this past fall, a well-timed and heavily promoted open house can be advantageous. However, they should not be relied on exclusively, since open houses alone are not the most effective way to sell a home. The key is for your realtor to invest in multiple marketing activities to help gain the most exposure for your home, bringing in the most qualified buyers.

My home needs some repairs. Should I get these done before listing my home or can I just offer a lower price instead of making the repairs?

You will sell your home faster for a better price if you take care of the repairs ahead of time. Often homes that have repair issues will languish on the market. Every situation is different, however, and there are some cases where not all repairs can be made. In that case, I’d recommend asking your realtor to look at what repairs you’re concerned about and also ask them to point out any issues that they notice.

Before we list a home, we work with our clients to help them prioritize repair work, and share recommendations of contractors who can help them get the work done swiftly and economically.

My home could use some cosmetic updates, but I don’t want to spend a lot of money fixing it up. What should I do?

You usually don’t need to spend a lot of money to prepare your home for sale. Very inexpensive changes such as updating a few light fixtures or giving a room a fresh coat of paint can make a big difference.  

This is another area where your realtor can advise you. After years of seeing home buyers’ reactions to different properties, an experienced agent will be able to share insights into what’s important to address and what isn’t.

We had water in our basement a few years ago but we had the problem fixed since that time. Should I disclose this?

Yes, it’s best to be up front with potential buyers. The fact that you invested in measures to prevent the problem from occurring again should be reassuring to home buyers.

What is the standard commission rate for selling a home?

Many full service agencies charge 5-6 of the home sale price, but there’s no standard commission rate that everyone uses. When interviewing realtors, I’d ask them how much they charge and get a written description of everything that will include. For example, some realtors will just put up a yard sign, list your home in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), and wait for the phone to ring, while others will invest in a good deal of home preparation and home marketing to help you get the best price for your home.

What other costs are involved with selling my home?

Typical costs include:
•    Real estate transfer tax (usually $4.56 per thousand dollars of the home sale price, so if your home sells for $400,000, you’d pay $1,824.)
•    Smoke certificate (a nominal fee, usually under $50)
•    Title V certificate, if you have a private septic system (usually several hundred dollars)
•    Real estate attorney fees (can be several hundred dollars or higher, depending on the complexity of the sales)

To learn more about getting the most value for your home, download our free 25-page Home Selling Essentials guide.

 

Reprinted from my MetroWest Daily News column in Metrowest Homes, a real estate resource for residents of Dover, Holliston, Hopkinton, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland, Westborough, Weston & beyond.

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