Have a question about selling your home? The Dill Team can help with that. As one of the top real estate teams in the Iowa City area, we know a thing or two about selling a house. We have compiled a list of questions that we usually get asked by our sellers. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, feel free to reach out to The Dill Team.
How Does the Process of Selling Begin?
Once you have decided that you would like to sell your house or you are in a situation where you need to move, there are several steps you will need to follow. Take a look at our Home Selling Basics resource for an in-depth look at the process which you are about to go through.
How Do I Determine What to Sell My House For?
There are many factors that contribute to the sale price of your house. These factors include:
- Location: geographic location, but also if you are in the city, suburbs or country
- Lot size
- Square footage of the house, both above ground and basement, and the condition of your home
- Finished basement square footage
- Number of bedrooms & bathrooms
- Kitchen: the size and how up to date it is
- Build Details: year your home was built, materials used to construct your home, a/c and heat source, sewer and water source, and the builder
- Neighborhood: value of the homes around yours, safety, number of parks nearby
- School District
- Current market conditions
The Dill Team will assist you in determining the value of your home. You can also contact a professional appraiser and they will provide you with an accurate estimate based on the factors listed above.
What Are the Dangers of Overpricing My Home?
Buyer interest is at its peak for your home when it first goes on the market. If you home is priced too high, you may deter a potential buyer from even looking at your home. This could cause you to miss out on the opportunity to sell your home quickly instead of having it sit on the market for months or even a year. The Dill Team will help you set a competitive market price for your home in order to attract offers and get your home sold for a price that will leave you happy and moving on to bigger and better things.
What Are the Costs Involved with Selling?
The costs associated with your home are comprised of the following: lender fees, escrow fees, home inspection, appraisal, realtor commission, and work that needs to be done to your house. It is important to ask yourself how much you need to do to your home to get it to a good selling condition. We have put together ways to increase the value of your home, and many of these tips are applicable for all sellers. How to Increase Your Home’s Value will also give you reminders for how to get your home ready for pictures that will appear in your online listing and for open houses. Other costs may apply depending on specific situations.
How Do I Attract Buyers to My Home?
You can attract buyers to your home by creating online listings on top realty sites such as Zillow.com, Trulia.com, Realtor.com, Homes.com, etc. When you choose the Dill Team, you will also receive a listing on our website as well, and The Dill Team will list your property on all of the online sites. You can also take out a newspaper ad, have an open house, put a For Sale sign in your yard, advertise in a magazine, and more. The Dill Team will help you market your home so that buyers are excited about seeing your home.
How Long Will It Take to Sell My Home?
The time it takes to sell a home is different for each situation. A lot of it will have to do with the factors that determine the list price of your home. The Dill Team will be able to give you a rough idea of how long it will take to sell your home in the current market conditions.
How Many Months Before I Want to Move Should I List My House On the Market?
A good rule of thumb is to list your home no more than 9 months before you want to move out of your house. Depending on the market, your home may take a while to sell. The Dill Team will help you determine the best time to list your home on the market if you have time to spare before you plan to move. You can always try to negotiate a closing date near the time you are looking to move out if your home sells faster than you were expecting. When you know you are going to be moving to another home, begin fixing anything that may deter potential buyers from your house. As soon as your home is market ready, it is time to list it.
What Is the Best Time Of Year To Sell A House?
The best time of year to sell your home is when you want to move. We have a breakdown of the buyers in each season which might influence your decision, but the Dill Team will work hard to sell your home at any time as quickly as possible to the right buyer for a price that satisfies you.
- Spring: Typically, there are a large number of buyers in the spring, but there are also a large number of sellers, too. Buyers are comprised of couples and families looking for their first home or a larger one.
- Summer: Summer is filled with families looking to find a place to live before school starts. Many of these families are new to the area.
- Fall: Fall is filled with empty nesters and snowbirds looking to move into a smaller home or relocate to a warmer climate.
- Winter: Winter offers fewer buyers, but many times a very small selection of housing options. These buyers are often people that are new to the area and need a place to live quickly.
Much of the buyer/seller activity depends on the real estate market at that particular time. It is really up to you when you want to sell your house, and it is wise to base that decision upon when you want to move.
How Do I Get My Home Ready To Sell?
Check out our How to Increase Your Home’s Value resource for helpful tips on not only how to raise your home’s value, but also how to get your home into a market-ready position.
How Can I Raise the Value of My Home?
See our How to Increase Your Home’s Value resource to learn inexpensive fixes that will return a large payout.