Selling a house probably isn’t as simple as we’d like it to be, but it’s not as complicated as it may seem at first glance. As with anything, if you break it down into the constituent steps of the process, it will be much easier to understand and accomplish – despite the legal and financial complexities and the mountain of paperwork. To that end, we offer this step-by-step guide for selling a house in Atlanta.
Decide For/Against an Agent
You have two basic options for selling a house in Atlanta: sell it yourself (FSBO) or hire an agent. If you sell your house yourself, you’ll have to do everything yourself – listing, marketing, showing, negotiating, and more. A real estate agent, on the other hand, will do all this for you, making your life easier and often getting you a better price and a faster sale. Before you make this decision, research what is expected of you if you do choose to sell your home on your own!
Determine the Price
The first step in the actual process of selling a house in Atlanta involves determining the price. It’s a true balancing act where you have to weigh maximum profit against buyer appeal. The main factors you’ll need to consider for pricing are:
- The prices of comparable recently sold homes in the area
- Market conditions
- Local economy
- Appraised value
- Seller needs, such as how fast you want to seller
Keep in mind, the agent does not determine the price of the home. It all depends on the market in Atlanta and what has recently sold in your area. Yes, you can price your home however you want, but you may either lose money if it’s too low or it could sit on the market for a long time because it is overpriced which can end up being a disadvantage as well. A comparative market analysis is your best tool for arriving at a competitive price. (Contact your local agent to find out more about this. Just call 770-280-4560.)
Begin Showing
After determining the price and listing your home, you will then begin showing it to interested buyers. A successful showing that ends in an offer, is mostly the result of preparation, which includes:
- Making (at a minimum) minor repairs and cosmetic upgrades
- De-cluttering and deep cleaning
- Improving curb appeal
- Staging (if needed)
Negotiating
After you begin showing your home, the next step in selling a house in Atlanta, if everything goes right, is negotiating. Your Atlanta agent will begin to receive offers, present them to you, and the two of you will determine if you should pass, bargain for a better deal, or leave as is and accept the offer.
You don’t have to accept an offer – you can always reject it outright or make a counteroffer. An offer doesn’t become binding until both seller and buyer sign the offer to purchase contract. That’s why it’s important to have an experienced Atlanta agent in your corner to help you negotiate the best deal, including contingencies before that contract is signed.
Preparing for Closing
After the negotiations have resulted in a signed contract, you will then begin to prepare for closing in the process of selling a house in Atlanta. And a lot has to happen before the actual closing which your Atlanta agent will help you with as soon as you get to this point in the process, including:
- Home inspection
- Title search
- Property survey
- Septic certification (where applicable)
- Final walk-through 24 hours prior to closing
- Final disclosure
Closing
The final step in selling a house in Atlanta, the conclusion and finalization of the transaction, is the closing. During the closing, which takes place on a specified and agreed-to date, money changes hands, the deed is delivered to the buyer, the title is transferred, and previously agreed-on costs are paid. All of this includes the signing of several documents, such as the deed and mortgage or deed of trust. Ultimately, you get your money, and the buyer gets the key to her new house.
Listing and Marketing
While this step actually occurs at the very beginning of the process of selling a house in Atlanta, we left it for last in the place of prominence because it is so important. Creating an eye-catching listing is critical if you want to draw potential buyers in, and marketing that listing to a very specific market is the only way to sell on your terms. The advantage of having a Atlanta agent on your side is that we have a huge pool of buyers waiting to buy your house. But how do you do all these things? The best way is to hire an experienced local agent.