Sellers listing their homes for sale in Stamford have the city’s many amazing features working in their favor, such as its proximity to highways and public transportation, exciting nightlife, and bountiful outdoor recreation full of hiking trails, gardens, and more. Even in a highly sought-after locale, preparing a home for its debut on the market is a complex endeavor, so you want to have a solid game plan in place. Here’s everything to know when selling a home in Stamford.
Preparing your house for success
When preparing a home to sell, it’s essential to determine its value and search for an expert agent to partner up with. Your trusted agent will be a valuable resource in staging the home to appeal to buyers and addressing any questions or issues that arise.
Interviewing real estate agents
To find a trusted professional, it’s time to interview real estate agents to find an expert who can meet your needs. Ask questions relating to their relevant experience, level of success, marketing and negotiation strategies, and preferred mode of communication. An agent should also be willing to provide recent references from satisfied clients and show you their portfolio of notable sales. Generally, you want to feel like you can contact your agent when needed and that your communication styles mesh well together.
Get the pricing right
Determining a home’s value is highly important, as you want to set a competitive listing price that will generate interest from buyers right from the start. Your agent will evaluate recently sold and currently listed properties in the area to devise a pricing strategy that’s sure to get results.
Staging your home and taking photos
Before listing your Stamford home for sale, staging is an essential step for making your property look picture-perfect and ready for tours. Thoroughly clean each room by mopping and vacuuming all floors, dusting off all shelves and surfaces, and wiping down windows and appliances until they shine. Then, take down personal photos and other memorabilia, as these are typically distracting to buyers.
Rearrange furniture and redecorate each space with expert staging techniques, using neutral colors and insightful design elements to create a welcoming environment. Let in plenty of natural light to open up the rooms and make the atmosphere more inviting. When your home is ready, work with a professional photographer to capture all the most impressive features of your property.
Rearrange furniture and redecorate each space with expert staging techniques, using neutral colors and insightful design elements to create a welcoming environment. Let in plenty of natural light to open up the rooms and make the atmosphere more inviting. When your home is ready, work with a professional photographer to capture all the most impressive features of your property.
The steps to selling
Now that your home is priced correctly and expertly staged, you’re ready to list your home on the Stamford, CT, real estate scene!
Listing on the MLS
To boost visibility, your agent will list your home on the local MLS with professional photos and a thorough property description. From here, listings disseminate onto other popular sites that buyers can access, increasing the range of your outreach. Your agent will also market your listing online through other channels, such as social media and their website, and through virtual tours and 3-D walkthroughs. Your agent will also seek out interested buyers by planning home showings and hosting an open house.
Receiving offers
As buyers start making offers on your beloved home, it’s time to discuss the pros and cons of each with your agent. Many sellers prefer all-cash offers as there’s less financial risk involved. Also, all-cash offers typically have fewer contingencies attached, and the closing process is often much quicker. However, traditional offers tend to be higher in price and can provide valuable time for sellers who are closing on a real estate purchase of their own.
Your agent will work with you to respond to each offer and determine whether you want to accept, reject, or counter.
Your agent will work with you to respond to each offer and determine whether you want to accept, reject, or counter.
The closing steps
After you accept an offer, your buyer will order an inspection and an appraisal of the property to finalize the sale. These steps are typically included as contingencies in the transaction. If issues arise with either, it may be necessary to renegotiate. For example, the buyer may request that you address certain repairs as found in the inspection report. You may agree to complete the repairs yourself, offer the buyer a credit to fix the issues after they move in, renegotiate the price, or move forward as-is.
Your agent will be by your side every step of the way, ensuring that your transaction goes smoothly and without a hitch. Of course, at the closing table, you must also sign numerous finalizing documents, which your agent will review and explain. They will ensure that you fully understand what you’re signing.
Your agent will be by your side every step of the way, ensuring that your transaction goes smoothly and without a hitch. Of course, at the closing table, you must also sign numerous finalizing documents, which your agent will review and explain. They will ensure that you fully understand what you’re signing.
Frequently asked questions
Selling a home in Stamford is a complicated, multi-step process that can leave even the most experienced sellers scratching their heads. Here are some answers to a few of the most common questions sellers have.
How can I achieve the highest offers for my sale?
There are a few ways to aim for a higher-priced sale. Getting the timing right is a major factor, as timing significantly impacts home prices due to buyer demand and seasonality. Late spring through summer typically experience the highest activity from buyers, with homes often selling for higher prices during these months. Sellers can also make necessary repairs or upgrades to boost their home’s value; work with your agent to determine which changes will lead to the highest return on your investment.
Is staging my home worth it?
Staging is well worth your time and resources. According to the NAR, staged homes receive higher-priced offers compared to other similar, unstaged properties. Agents also reported that staged homes generally spend less time on the market.
Can I sell my Stamford home without a Realtor?
Sellers who choose to list their properties on their own typically face more obstacles along their selling journey, as they don’t have an expert agent to guide them.
Homes listed as “FSBO” generally sell for less and spend more time on the market, which can ultimately result in a more frustrating, less successful selling experience. Usually, the money saved in commission fees isn’t worth the extra time and effort that selling a home on your own entails.
Homes listed as “FSBO” generally sell for less and spend more time on the market, which can ultimately result in a more frustrating, less successful selling experience. Usually, the money saved in commission fees isn’t worth the extra time and effort that selling a home on your own entails.
Ready to sell in Stamford?
So, if you’re aiming for top-dollar offers, it’s time to team up with a local expert who knows the area inside and out. The experienced agents of the Tri-Star Team at Corcoran Centric are ready to guide you through the process of selling Stamford real estate without all the stress. Reach out today!
*Header photo courtesy of the Tri-Star Team at Corcoran Centric
