Introduction
Since the pandemic began and went full-scale on the world, lots of industries worldwide have been affected. The real estate industry was no exception, as many people have had to put their house sale on hold. However, with the economy reopening in the United States, you might be wondering about selling your home during COVID-19. We have good news for you, you can sell your home, and we would tell you how.
Note: Before embarking on selling your home, make sure you abide by the safety rules of your city or county.
5 steps you should take before you sell your home ;
Step #1 Make Sure Your Home is Ready to Sell
In the world of real estate, presentation has always been an essential part of the home selling process. Presentation includes both the interior and exterior aspects of your home. Make sure that the home you want to sell is clean and neat.
Add a coat of paint to areas of the house that needs a new décor, and rearrange the furniture in the house to show off space. Some parts of the house that might be broken like the bathroom, or kitchen, should be fixed. The goal is to make your potential buyer feel attracted to your home and feel comfortable too.
Step #2 Get Your Property Inspected and Appraised
Most buyers would have their own inspector inspect the house before making a bid to buy your home. To make sure things work in your favor, it is a good idea to have your own property inspected professionally. This gives you 100% guarantee about the condition of your home before deciding to sell your home.
Some states and areas now allow a home inspection to be carried out (keep a safe distance during this process). In many states, precautions like letting the inspector carry out the inspection unaccompanied and wearing gloves are required.
You can also perform an alternative appraisal that does not require the physical presence of the inspector. Instead, the inspector inspects the exterior parts of the house and may use a video walkthrough of the house for quality assessment.
Step #3 Price Your Home Appropriately
Pricing is probably the most crucial aspect of selling your home during COVID-19. With the world economy being badly hit by the pandemic, home buyers are looking for bargain prices on the homes they buy.
As a property owner, you don’t want to set your price too high in these trying times. You would be better off selling your home at a price that suits you perfectly, without looking for too much up-sell margin.
You can find the right price for your home by checking online listings of similar homes in your area and setting your price based on those prices. This is called comparative market analysis.
Learn more about comparative market analysis on Investopedia.com or get started with a comparative market analysis right way on har.com
Step #4 Make Virtual Tools and Online Marketing
Invest in tools that will help your market your home for sale online, and you can even pay for ads that show a walkthrough of your home. COVID-19 has changed the way a lot of people work, and this is no different for real estate too. Many home sellers now have 3D walkthroughs of various homes that they sell, which their buyers can examine with virtual reality headsets.
Do not hesitate to hire an agent or photographer to record a walkthrough of your home for potential buyers. Some other aspects of digital technology you might need to adapt for home selling include digital closing tools and remote client meetings.
Step #5 Perform In-Person Showings Only if Necessary
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, many buyers have opted to closing home deals without needing to see the property in person. However, many home buyers still prefer to inspect their new home or property in person before buying it. Therefore, there are several things to take into considerations before allowing a buyer in your home.
- Discuss with your agents only to offer in-person showing to serious exclusive buyers who have shown serious interest.
- Demand for a proof of funds or perhaps a mortgage approval letter from your buyers before granting them a tour.
- You can allow your agent to give them a preliminary tour of the street, the neighborhood, and the exterior of the house before granting an in-person home tour.
- Depending on your area, you might need a buyer to present a COVID-19 certification form. This form, which will be signed by the agent, seller, and you the buyer certifies that to the best of the buyer’s knowledge, they are not infected.
After the home tour, ensure that you disinfect the objects in your house.
Conclusion
Selling your home during COVID-19 might seem like a daunting or impossible task. However, with the determination to sell, the right price, best home selling practices, and the appropriate buyer, you will sell your home.
Happy home selling!