Selling your Conejo Valley home is a significant decision that marks an important milestone in life. It can seem daunting at the beginning of your selling journey, but learning about the entire process and being prepared will make the transaction feel less overwhelming. If you are considering placing your home on the market, here is an overview of how to tackle selling a home in Conejo Valley with confidence.
PREPARING YOUR HOUSE TO SELL SUCCESSFULLY
Before listing your home, determining its value is essential to generating interest in the property. Work with an expert agent to guide you through the process. You must also ensure your house is in incredible shape by staging, cleaning, and making any necessary home improvements.
DETERMINE YOUR HOME’S VALUE
While preparing to sell your home on the Conejo Valley real estate market, it is essential to assess its value and set an appropriate listing price. Fortunately, several tools can assist you, such as online home valuation tools and comparing the prices of similar houses in your area. For a more precise and accurate projection, though, seek the expertise of a local real estate agent and a professional appraiser, as their experience in the market ensures a more comprehensive assessment of your home’s value.
INTERVIEW AGENTS
Speaking of agents, working with one is a significant asset in your home sale! Real estate agents simplify and streamline the entire selling process, as they will take care of various tasks, including managing your listing, scheduling property tours, and handling the crucial final negotiations to close the sale successfully.
When searching for the right agent, conducting interviews and inquiring about their specific skills and expertise is vital. For instance, ask if they have specialized knowledge in selling luxury real estate and assess their familiarity with the Conejo Valley real estate market. Asking pertinent questions allows you to find an agent with the qualifications to meet your selling needs.
PERFORM REPAIRS IF NEEDED
If there are any repairs you’ve been postponing, now is the time to tackle them! Fill in any holes in the wall, fix leaky faucets, and replace that torn window screen. Taking care of any issues before listing will ensure that your home makes a grand entrance onto the real estate stage.
Getting a pre-listing home inspection is also a great way to learn about any potential repair needs or areas of concern. If you cannot tackle the repairs yourself, hire a professional to ensure the job is done thoroughly and correctly.
STAGE YOUR HOME FOR PHOTOGRAPHS
Now that repairs are complete, it’s time to stage your home and take amazing photos for the online listing. To prepare for staging your home, clean the inside and outside thoroughly and focus on decluttering to create a warm, inviting space for potential buyers.
When staging for photographs, strategically rearranging the furniture is an important step, as what is functional for daily use does not always make for a presentable photo. Also, the room should be well-lit, and you should avoid seeing your reflection in mirrors or other reflective surfaces. Hiring an expert real estate photographer will ensure you achieve compelling photos that showcase all your home’s most incredible features and architectural details.
SELLING YOUR HOME
Now that your home is ready to sell, it must be listed on the Conejo Valley real estate market. Your agent will be prepared with top-notch marketing tactics to get your home seen and sold. Once your agent receives inquiries from buyers, they will schedule private tours and answer any questions your buyers have about the property. You will then begin receiving offers!
THE OPEN HOUSE AND VIRTUAL TOURS
To give buyers a closer look at all the fantastic amenities and features your home has to offer, they will coordinate and host open houses, private showings, and virtual tours. In-person open houses benefit buyers, as they can walk through the house and ask questions without feeling pressured. Your agent will host the open house and serve as a vital resource for your prospective buyers.
To create virtual tours, sellers can pre-record a video to share with buyers or hold a live stream while walking through the house. This method is beneficial for out-of-state buyers, as they can get a closer look at the home without needing to travel.
RECEIVING OFFERS
Next, the offers will come flying in! Your agent will help you evaluate each offer and determine which one is the right fit for your circumstances. They will represent you during negotiations with the other party as you respond to offers.
THE BUYER’S INSPECTION AND APPRAISAL
After the buyer’s offer is accepted, they will typically order their own home inspection, even if you had a pre-listing inspection done. If any issues are found during the inspection, your agent will help you and the other party come to an agreement as to how to address them.
The buyer will also order an appraisal, as the lender needs to ensure that the home’s value matches the sales price. The appraisal will assess various factors, including the prices of comparable homes in the neighborhood, prevailing market trends, and the findings from the inspection, to determine the property’s value.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SELLING YOUR CONEJO VALLEY HOME
HOW CAN I GET THE MOST MONEY FROM SELLING?
There are several strategies for getting the most money when selling a home. Pricing your home competitively based on a comparative market analysis attracts potential buyers and increases the likelihood of receiving offers. Avoid overpricing your home, as it can deter buyers.
Another tactic is enhancing your home’s curb appeal by pristinely maintaining the exterior, sprucing up the landscaping, and making minor improvements to create a positive first impression. Take care of necessary repairs and upgrades, such as maintenance issues, beforehand. Updating fixtures, freshening up the paint, and upgrading areas like the kitchen or bathrooms are other great ways to increase your property’s luxury appeal.
IS IT A GOOD TIME TO SELL?
Although it is difficult to predict the local real estate market, there are specific patterns regarding the best months to sell a house. Summer is typically the best time to list a property due to families having more time off from school and other obligations. That said, your agent will help you sell your home in any season and achieve your goals.
IS STAGING MY HOME WORTH IT?
Staging proves to be a worthy investment, as it increases the appeal of your property. With proper staging, you can highlight your home’s key features and create a blank slate for your buyers to envision their own lives within the space. Overall, staging is a cost-effective way to make your home more marketable and improve its perceived value.
FINDING AN AGENT TO SELL YOUR CONEJO VALLEY HOME
Are you ready to sell your home in the Conejo Valley real estate market? Connect with Deborah Kernahan, a seasoned real estate professional with an impressive 30-year track record in the industry. With Deborah and the Kernahan Associates by your side, you can expect unparalleled attention to detail, adaptability to any market, and a genuine understanding of your needs. Contact Deborah Kernahan today to work with a real estate professional who knows how to achieve results.
*Header photo courtesy of Shutterstock
Recommended Reading: Everything You Need to Know About Getting Your Home Inspected Before Selling