Are you selling your Howard County/Catonsville home?

When you prepare to put your home in Howard County or Catonsville on the market, you hope that everything will go the way you imagine – usually that your home will sell for over the listing price the very first day it goes on the market.

The reality is often not so rosy...

• The market may slow down.
• You may have lots of competition with other homes on the market at the same time.
• The weather may turn against you – some years we get lots and lots of snow in Maryland.
• Your home may get very few showings.
• You may not get any offers.
• You may have to lower your list price.
• Or, your home may not sell at all because you made a big mistake.

It may be a very painful experience but here are some ways to make it easier!

Are you ready to sell?  Be sure to follow these 5 tips.

#1 – Hire the right REALTOR® – Selling your home is one of the largest transactions you’ll ever have, so why would you trust that responsibility to just any agent.  You can ask friends and family for referrals, but there are several questions you should always ask.

• Are you experienced selling homes in the Howard County and Catonsville area?
• Have you sold this type of home before?
• Do you have an extensive marketing plan?
• How many homes have you sold in the past 12 months?

To get the listing, other agents may employ a number of strategies, including suggesting or agreeing with you to list a high price for your home. Don’t fall for it. Choose the agent who is straight with you, about the market and about your home. – Hire EPIK Home Group.

#2 – Don’t ignore the market.

market is different and those differences can impact the sales price of your home, the number of days your home spends on the market, and whether your home sells or not. Are you selling in Winter? Are you selling for a time sensitive reason? You have to face the reality of market conditions to influence the success of your home’s sale. If home prices are going up, you’ll do well, but it will be more expensive to purchase your next home, unless you move to a less expensive market or home.

And if prices are going down, you may not net what you were hoping for, but your next purchase may be a bargain, if you stay in the same area.

#3 – Never hide problems the home may have.

If you’ve had a major water leak or had your foundation fixed, you need to disclose that in a formal seller’s disclosure form for all potential buyers to see. While it may be tempting to check the I-don’t-know box, remember that any lie can come undone. You don’t want to face legal problems because you tried to hide the truth. And if your buyer wants to know more, you can show the receipts for what you did to fix the problem.

#4 – Don’t overprice your home.

When your home is overpriced, it’s underdressed for the party. Everyone notices that it doesn’t quite fit in. Buyers who can afford your home quickly notice that your home doesn’t quite measure up to others in the same price range. Buyers who could afford your home if it were priced correctly are unlikely to make offers because they’ll be searching in a different price range.

# 5 – Don’t ignore your agent’s advice. A real estate agent is a professional. When she or he tells you that you’ll get a better offer more quickly if you’ll declutter, stage your home, make certain updates or repairs, it’s a proven truth. Buyers are more negative when they see homes that need work, and tend to make offers or withhold offers based on their feelings.

If your agent showed you a comparable market analysis, he or she may have suggested a listing range to price your home. If you go over that, you’re risking a negative response from the marketplace, long days on the market, and probable price reductions.

Do things right from the beginning and you’ll have a smoother, easier, and more profitable transaction.

What does this report mean for people looking to invest in Howard County or Catonsville Real Estate?  It means you want to use a local Realtor who knows the market REALLY well. Call a LOCAL Realtor to help you with your Howard County Real Estate needs.

Click here to check out Howard County a MD Real Estate active listings right now! (Feel free to save this link, it updates as the Columbia MD Real Estate market changes- you will always have the live market update)

Even if you already live here – it is always a good idea to know what homes are selling for in your area since selling prices affect your home’s value as well!

Ellie McIntire, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist, CLHMS, SRES, and CDPE Certified and The McIntire Team love telling you about the area with events, and neighborhoods updates such as Are you selling your Howard County/Catonsville home? Real Estate is local, so you deserve a local Realtor who not only knows the housing market, but knows Howard County/Catonsville, the amenities, the local events and resources that you will need. Consistently in the top 1% of Realtors in Howard County/Catonsville, The McIntire Team is here to help you with all your Real Estate needs!  

The McIntire Luxury Home Team Real Estate Services
Keller Williams Realty Centre

443-418-7668 (Cell or text message)
443-766-1768 (Office)
E-mail me anytime at:EllieMcintire@MRIS.com

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