10 Most Frequently Asked Home Seller Questions

Asking family, friends or co-workers can be a great place to start.  If someone you know was happy with the service they received from their agent, chances are you will be too.  Interviewing a few canidates can be a good idea, having a good fit is important.  Understand how the agent you are considering services their clients, how they communicate and what their background/experience are.

While online 'estimates' can give a ballpark of what your home might be worth, they lack the local expertise and personalization to accurately value your home.  They don't have the insight into the list of updates you may have done, a great location that will attract buyers or other features that make your home special.  We provide an in depth Compartive Market Analysis (CMA) to give you a more precise valuation and guidance on how it will influence your listing price.

It is most adventagous to price your home at or slightly below fair market value.  Pricing high can lead to extended days on market, leaving buyers wondering what might be wrong with your home.  With a slightly lower list price the likelyhoood of generating interest increases, bringing a higher probabilty of offers and giving you options as the seller.   

Trying to 'time' the housing market is a very difficult thing to do. A great time to be a buyer is probably not the best time to be a seller.  Determing the right time to make a move is a highly personal decision.  The market has been stablizing over the last year.  While rates aren't at all time lows, home equity in Dutchess County is at an all time high.  That could make this the right time to leverage your equity into a new home while avoiding the buying frenzy of the last couple of years.

Focus on high ROI items, things that cost little but have a big impact.  Decluttering and deep cleaning, consider hiring a professional for a one time clean.  Improving curb appeal - clean the exterior of the home, ensure lawn is mowed or leaves are raked, plant flowers and trim shrubs/trees.  Switching interior paint colors to a clean, neutral look can have a large impact on buyer perception. Consult with a real estate proffesional early in the process to avoid unecessary time and expense.  

This can be a daunting proposition but there are numerous tools to leverage.  You can close on both houses the same day, leverage contingies for protection, negotiate a post close/early occupancy agreement or maybe you are in a financial position where buying before selling is feasible.  Whether you are staying local or moving afar, it is critial to have an agent in tune with both transactions.

Home sellers pay on average 6%-8% of the home's sale price in closing costs.  These cost can include - attorney fees, NYS transfer tax, brokerage fees and recording fees.  An inclusive net to seller sheet is a great way to assess what your proceeds from the sale might be.

How long selling your home takes will depend on how well positioned it is in the market and what the average days on market in your area are.  If the buyer is financing the purchase it takes approximately 60 days to close.  This is after you have received and negotiated an offer, the buyer has done inspections and you have signed the contract of sale.  In New York, the contract close date is 'on or about' giving 30 days flexibility to both parties to meet their obligations.  In Connecticut, the contract close date is 'on or before'.