Noval explains that houses are priced according to square footage, location, amenities, and condition. On average, you can expect to pay a 6% commission for your Realtor’s services. Although this initially might seem like a hefty price, you’ll soon discover it’s a drop in the bucket for a quick sale at top dollar.
On with the show
Now that you’ve got someone to help you sell your house, it’s time to get it in show condition. “Because there is such a wide variety of homes on the market today, it’s important to have your house in show condition before you put up the ‘for sale’ sign,” says Noval. “Most buyers form an opinion about your property within the first 15 seconds of seeing it, and you don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression.”
Staging experts like Lee Raia, owner of Real Estate Styling, LLC in Baltimore, offer sellers guidance in preparing houses for sale to shorten time on the market and garner top dollar. Raia and Noval recently hosted a real estate seminar at Oak Crest in Parkville for people looking to sell their homes and move into the community. Raia stressed the importance of looking at your house with a buyer’s eye.
“You want buyers to be able to envision your house as their own without the distraction of clutter and personal items,” says Raia, who has staged more than 500 homes in the greater Baltimore area. “This is the time to clean your carpets, wash your windows, give the walls a fresh coat of paint, and make any necessary repairs you’ve been putting off.”
“It’s important for people to understand the processes and work that goes into selling a house and moving,” says Oak Crest Retirement Counselor JoAnn Huebler.
Help at home
“It’s especially important for the 62-plus age bracket we work with who have lived in their houses for many years to be armed with the most up-to-date selling tools and practices. These seminars allow people to speak directly with people in the real estate field and to have their specific questions answered by an expert so they can make educated decisions.”
Charlestown and Oak Crest regularly host Move-In Expos for future residents, bringing together moving companies, downsizing specialists, and real estate agents for one-stop-shopping.
Both communities also offer Erickson Realty & Moving Services, a new program designed to help prospective residents sell their homes.
For more information on how your local community can help with your move, call Charlestown at 1-800-222-9651 or Oak Crest at 1-800-333-5693.