What to Know Before Selling Your Long Valley Home

All over the news and social media, we hear about the housing market boom that has been happening since the start of the pandemic and currently shows no signs of slowing down. The words “seller’s market” have been uttered by everyone, from real estate agents to investors. If you own Long Valley, NJ, real estate and have plans to sell it, then contact your real estate agent to maximize your profits. Retirement may be forthcoming, or maybe you no longer need to live in an urban area as you can now work remotely; both are solid reasons to make a life-altering plan to sell your home. Yes, you can expect to pay more for a new home, but relocation to a less expensive area will allow you to have more house for your money.

 

If you’re retiring, consider downsizing, and consult with your investment advisor on how to use the profits from the sale of your home. Now is the time to list your home if the thought of moving into a smaller space or to a less rural area is within your five-year plan. Even though we’re in a seller’s market, there are some things you should do to be ready when the time comes to list your home.

Once you’ve decided to sell your home, it’s time to get busy compiling everything you will need. Your agent will have some questions about the house, and having all the necessary documents together will help your agent list your home most efficiently. It’s helpful to have your existing deed and any mortgage documentation references—either an outstanding balance or a document stating the mortgage was satisfied. While these documents won’t be needed until you’re under contract, it’s always best to be prepared. Do you remember those manuals that came with your appliances or new HVAC system? You put them in a safe place if you ever needed them. Now is the time to remember where that safe place is because the potential new owners will find these helpful as they transition into your home. Did you complete any large projects on the house, like replacing the roof or updating the electrical system? Knowing when you did these projects will assist your agent when listing your Long Valley, NJ, real estate.

You may be tempted to tell your friend or the person next door that your home will soon be one of the homes for sale in Long Valley, NJ, but you may want to keep this to yourself until you speak to an agent. You may have a price in mind for your home and accidentally spill the beans to someone close to you. The news then begins to spread to people who know, and the next thing you know, someone is at your door asking to see your home. You may then be inclined to review and accept an offer because it’s someone referred to you by a friend or neighbor. This offer may be significantly less than what a real estate agent would recommend and likely get for you if given the opportunity. Once you have a price set, it’s challenging to increase your price.

 

Thankfully for you, working with experienced local agents—such as Christina Scott and Anjenette Kuncewitch of The Hometown Team NJ—will allow you to list your home at the right price. Using Compass CMA (Comparable Market Analysis) to compare your home to other Long Valley, NJ, homes for sale, Christina and Anjenette will determine a price that will ensure that not only will your home attract buyers once it goes on the market, it’ll continue to gain momentum until you find the right fit—regardless of where they may be!

There are certainly stories of sellers receiving offers with no contingencies associated with the offer price. While this may occur, it remains a good practice to address any significant issues before listing the home. The projects that you know have needed to be completed for some time but were put at the bottom of your list could mean thousands of dollars on your offer. Some potential buyers may even walk away if they believe the home has not been well-maintained. Even if you think it’s likely a home inspection may not be required, consider getting a pre-listing inspection or finding a close friend who knows homes to give you an opinion. Mitigating potential concerns will ensure the home sells quickly and for the highest price.

We all live in our homes, so they’re not always artfully arranged and meticulously cleaned. When considering purchasing your home, buyers are searching for that picture-perfect home to move into, even if it won’t be that neat once they move in. They want a home that isn’t cluttered with someone’s personal possessions and is super clean—like faucets shining clean. Begin getting yourself ready for the move, and pack away all of your personal items that add what appears to be clutter to the home, even if you love them.

 

Think of this as part of the moving process; it will be that much easier when the time arrives for you to move your things. Hire a service to do a deep cleaning of your home, or take it on yourself if you need to work out some emotions while scrubbing the floors (it’s therapeutic to some!). Your agent may recommend a staging company, as other houses for sale in Long Valley, NJ, may have already done so, and you’ll be competing with them. The bottom line is, get your home looking the best inside and out so potential buyers will fall in love with it.

The final closing of your home will be a blend of emotions, from relief to sadness at leaving it behind. You’ve done everything necessary to get to this point, so reward yourself with a nice dinner and drinks with friends to celebrate. If you’re ready to get to that celebration, contact Christina Scott and Anjenette Kuncewitch at The Hometown Team NJ to begin the process.