Learn about the 5 commonly overlooked items that can significantly impact your home sale. From light fixtures to HVAC systems, discover essential tips to maximize your profit and attract buyers. Get your home market-ready with AF Realty Group’s expert advice!

Selling a home for the first time can be both exciting and overwhelming. The process involves several steps that may not be immediately obvious to those new to the real estate market. Here are five key things first-time sellers might not be aware of!

Are you considering dipping your toes into the bustling waters of real estate? As a first-time seller, the journey ahead might seem daunting, filled with uncertainties and unfamiliar territory. Fear not! In this guide, we'll delve into five lesser-known aspects of selling your home that could make all the difference in your experience.

Preparing for the home appraisal is always an important step when selling your home. In a declining market, it becomes critical. When home prices are rising or steady, one can expect the comps (comparable properties) will justify the sales price you negotiated. When prices are falling, this becomes less sure. Since appraisers use the most recent closed sales in their comparisons, a new sale with a lower price can affect the value of your home.

The minute you list your home, everyone will want to know why. You will hear from your neighbors, family members, and friends. Of course, there is no harm in speaking freely with family and friends but be careful what you tell your neighbors and especially the buyers and their agents who visit your listing.

Over the past few years, most of the US has been in a strong seller’s market. Historically-low interest rates coupled with rising incomes resulted in buyers who were ready and able to buy a new home. It was a crazy time when sellers needed to do little more than put a sign in the yard to attract multiple offers.

The most important aspect of listing your home for sale is the asking price. Unlike many other items we purchase, home prices are based on what a willing and able buyer would pay for the property. Sounds complicated, right? This is why real estate agents bring comps (short for comparable properties) information with them to the discussion. Yet are you using the right comps to successfully sell your home?

Even a vacant home needs attention before it’s ready for showing. The key is to remove anything that would distract from a buyer seeing the home in its best light and highlight its best features.

While certainly it’s important to find an agent you can communicate with, the right agent brings more than a pleasant demeanor to the transaction and it’s critical to choose the right one.

Decorating with plants takes more strategy than adding a pretty pot to a coffee table. Here are a few tips for incorporating plants into the design scheme that home stagers use to make a home more appealing.

One of the most common reasons for a home sale to fall through is the presence of property liens. Often the sellers are not even aware they have a lien on their home and the delay caused by having them removed can cause a qualified buyer to look elsewhere.

The winter season has traditionally been a slower time for home sales. The guidance in the past has been to wait for the warmer months of spring before listing. However, the current real estate market has created a strong seller’s market and if you’re considering a move, it may be better to sell now rather than risk a slowdown if interest rates rise in the coming months.

More than one seller has been surprised to find that their favorite chandelier is not theirs to take when they move. First-time home sellers might be especially confused when confronted with an exclusion form presented by their agent, but understanding what is, and is not included in the sale by statute is important to avoid disappointment on both sides.

Buying a home is a process. Once a buyer writes an offer and has it accepted, the listing is placed in a state called “pending sale.”

Home inspections and appraisals are a few vital pieces of the home buying and selling transaction that require in-person visits. Both of these need access to the property to properly perform their duties, and it leaves some potential home sellers and buyers wondering if it’s even possible to conclude a real estate transaction right now. Here are some ways to stay safe during these processes.

Buying or selling a home can be extremely stressful. It can be even more overwhelming if one is trying to do both at the same time. The good news is that this happens all the time and by following a few simple tips, both buying and selling can be a seamless process.