How Long Does It Take to Sell My Home?
From the time you start getting the home ready until you sit down at the settlement table and sign the deed can take several months.
First, you must get your home ready. Rare is the homeowner who has to do nothing to the home or to the yard. Buyers today are very picky. Unless you are in a situation where you price your home at a bargain level, you will need to do some things to the home. Mary Ann Cochran likes to meet with sellers several months ahead of the time they hope to put a home on the market. This gives time for the seller to do often needed work such as:
- getting rid of excess items in the home
- painting to make the home fresh, inside and out
- changing some of the decor
- putting in new carpet
- washing the windows to increase the light from outside
- cutting overgrown shrubs, low hanging branches and general yard clean up
- replacing worn, dirty or aged appliances
These are some of the more common things which have to be done. When one has family or friends to help, it is often easier. If one can afford to hire someone to help, it makes it faster. If you want or need to do the work yourself, it takes time and energy.
Once the home is ready for market, Mary Ann Cochran gets the marketing packages ready. This includes quality photographs, color brochures and accurate, complete information. Miss Utility is contacted for post sign installment and then the sign erected.
When the home goes on the market, there ususally is strong interest. The longer a home is on the market, the less interest there is until something happens, such as a significant price reduction or change in the property itself such as fixing a major problem as removing wall paper, painting a different color or even fixing and old bathroom.
If a home has been put in a price range which is competitive for the neighboorhood, a seller can expect an offer within a few weeks.
Once an offer is accepted, several things happen. Most buyers want a home inspection and maybe a radon inspection. Then, of course, the appraisal has to be done. This takes another few weeks. While this is going on, the new lender is gathering documents from the buyer hopefully leading to loan approval.
From offer to settlement is normally in the 45-60 day time frame.
From the time you start getting your home ready, the marketing preparation, the marketing, and the offer to loan approval process, may take several months.
When to start?
If you want to sell in the spring, you need to be talking to Mary Ann Cochran in the fall. If you want to sell in the summer, call in January. If you want to sell in the late fall or winter, call in March or April.
Mary Ann Cochran will guide you through the process from start to finish. Give yourself time to do it right and maximize the financial asset of your home.
Call Mary Ann at 703 532 5565 or email her at macmris@gmail.com