There are many factors that contribute to the amount of time it will take to sell a home.  Below are some of the biggest contributing factors that impact the amount of time it takes from listing date to closing date.

1. The current state of the real estate market (sellers market, buyers market, balanced market)
2. Listing price
3. Real estate marketing strategies used
4. Number of inspection contingencies
5. Buyers mortgage approval process
6. The closing document review process

Many home sellers wonder whether selling a home staged or empty makes a difference.  There are certainly Pros and Cons to both.

Some buyers cannot envision their own belongings in a home full of other peoples furnishings while other prospective buyers prefer to see how a room can be utilized.  One of the biggest considerations when determining whether to sell a home staged or empty is the price it would cost to stage a home.

If the cost to stage a home is thousands of dollars but the sale price would be thousands higher, it is likely worth staging a home.  The answer to this question is not concrete and will depend on each sellers situation.  It’s important that sellers ask their real estate agent what they think and why in order to make an educated decision whether to sell their home staged or empty.

Home sellers who prepare their homes for the market, in most cases, will sell their home for more money and in a shorter amount of time.  There are certain steps that should be followed to make sure a home is both “market ready” and “show ready”.  There is only one chance to make a first impression with a buyer.  Review our home selling checklist for tips on how to prepare your home to be both ‘market” and “show” ready.

Since a home sale is one of the biggest transactions someone will be involved in, it’s critical to know what all the costs involved are.  Below are some of the most common costs of selling a home.

1. Brokerage fees/real estate commissions
2. Seller concessions (if applicable)
3. Title search
4. Instrument survey
5. Home warranty (if applicable)
6. Transfer taxes
7. Capital gain taxes
8. Costs of various repairs from inspections
9. Existing mortgages or home equity loans

There are several methods that can be used to determine the market value of the home, with the most effective being the comparative market analysis (CMA) approach.

Other methods for determining market value include the price per square foot method and appraisal method.  It’s important that when selling a home, a seller understands how their real estate agent is going to determine the market value of their home.