Opportunities are plenty for budding or experienced home sellers like you in the San Fernando Valley. It ranks as one of the top places to live in Los Angeles, and this reputation constantly drives interested home buyers and real estate investors to the area.
Are you ready to sell your home in the San Fernando Valley? Continue reading to learn tips for selling your home.
Deciding to sell your home
Oftentimes, it’s not easy to make the decision to sell your home. The results of the selling process are hard to reverse as well. So, before you go ahead and list your home on the market, assess your motivations behind the sale.
The following guide questions should help you decide if it is indeed time to sell your home:
- Does your current home no longer fits your needs and lifestyle?
- Has your current home built enough equity?
- Is the market favorable towards home selling?
At this point, it’s also important to establish how you’re going to approach the home selling process. Will you be selling first before purchasing a new one or vice versa, or are you going to do both at the same time?
Prepping your home for sale
Once you’ve finalized your decision to sell your home, it’s time to move on to the preparations. Of course, you have the option to sell your house as is, but making improvements and upgrades can increase your chances of selling your property fast and for a good price.
First, find out how much your house is currently worth. Then, add the following to your to-do list:
- Clean every nook and cranny of the house
- De-personalize the house (pack up personal belongings, heirlooms, etc).
- Declutter, then donate or sell unused items
- Make necessary repairs
- Improve the house’s curb appeal
- Have the home staged to sell
You can also renovate some areas of your home. Updated kitchens and bathrooms can bring significant returns on your investment. Click here to get some ideas.
Finding the right price for your house
There are several ways to get the price for your home.
- Look at comps and request a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) from your real estate agent
- Invite an appraiser to take a look at your property
- Check the price range for online home searches
The season, the market’s state (is it currently a neutral, a buyer’s, or a seller’s market?), and the timing of your sale also play roles in determining Los Angeles real estate values and, ultimately, the price for your house.
Marketing your home
The right price isn’t the only thing that will make home buyers come knocking on your door. A marketing strategy will get the word out and let them know your house is up for sale.
Here are several things you can do:
- Commission a web designer to create a website for your house and offer a virtual tour of the property
- Distribute pamphlets and flyers
- Hire a professional photographer to take listing photos
- Schedule open houses
- Share your listing on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter
You can use a combination of traditional and contemporary methods to market your home. Just remember: most home buyers these days behind their search online.
Accepting an offer
With the right price, expect to receive multiple offers. Receiving is easy, but choosing the right one can be a challenge.
In addition to the offer price, bear in mind the following factors when deciding which offer to accept:
- Contingencies (usually appraisal, inspection, and financing)
- Method of payment (all-cash or through mortgage?)
- Type of loan and mortgage pre-approval
- Earnest money deposit
- Closing schedule
- Other requests
Some buyers might also include letters to their respective offers. These often let you know how much they want to buy your house. It is an extra and optional step, but a letter from a buyer is a welcome sign.
Fulfilling your obligations as a home seller
After accepting an offer, it is time to fulfill your seller obligations before the agreed closing date. You’ll need to accomplish the contingencies stated in the contract, as well as complete your legal requirements.
In California, it’s mandated by law to provide a Transfer Disclosure Statement (TDS) detailing “material facts” related to your property’s condition. The form will be given to you by your real estate agent.
Other obligations may or may not include the following:
- Paying the buyer’s title insurance
- Using an escrow agent
- Paying a transfer tax
Closing the deal
On closing date, you’ll meet with your buyer, along with your respective agents and the escrow officer to finalize the details of the sale. Paperwork will be reviewed, such as the deed and the buyer’s mortgage documents. The buyer might also request a final walkthrough of the property.
If everything and everyone is satisfied and all conditions were met, it’s time to close the deal. You will hand over the title and keys to the home. Congratulations! You sold your home in the San Fernando Valley!
What does the average Los Angeles County home sell for?
Home sellers in Los Angeles County – and more specifically the San Fernando Valley region – are in an excellent position to get big bucks out of their property. The area has been setting and breaking records in average home prices through most of 2019. It has also benefited greatly from a strong rebound from the last housing market crash.
This blog post gives you a clear idea of how much Los Angeles County homes are fetching in today’s market. But there’s a reason to get even more excited, especially if you live in the Valley’s more affluent neighborhoods. Read on to see all of the encouraging news.
Also in this article: why pricing a home correctly matters and how to determine the right asking price for your home for sale. Ready to buy your house in the San Fernando Valley? Get in touch with me today to get started.
Helpful tips on how to sell a home where pets have lived
Pets bring plenty of joy into our households. But while they’ll always have a special spot in our families, having pets can make selling your home more challenging. The reality is that some homebuyers tend to see homes that were once occupied by pets in a negative light. As a seller, this can put you at a disadvantage, as some prospective buyers may quickly move on to look at other homes that were pet-free.
The good news however, is that there are steps you can take in order to prep your home on the market. In this page, we give you a few helpful tips on how you can sell a home shared by you and your pets.
How to stage your home to sell
Home staging plays a huge role in the home selling process. It showcases the best features of your home and helps make a great first impression on potential buyers. Done right, it can help you sell your home more quickly, and for a better price.
When staging your home, it’s important to bear in mind that even the most basic and simple things can make your home shine. Consider fluffing up your pillows, spraying clean-smelling scents, or washing the windows till they sparkle. Moving furniture around and getting rid of personal items to make rooms appear more spacious can also make a huge difference. On this page, we’ll discuss every step of the home staging process and how it works, along with helpful tips on cleaning, decorating and organizing.
7 common mistakes sellers make when flipping a house
After you’ve finished renovating or remodeling a property, it’s time to put it on the market. Similar to putting a residential property for sale, a flipped home requires a smart marketing strategy and a lot of research. Making sure your flipped property is sale ready should be your top priority.
Flipping a home requires a lot of effort. With so many things to do, it’s easy for investors to fall victim to common pitfalls. Break away from these bad habits by learning all of the tricks of the trade. This article lists 7 of the most common seller mistakes and how you can avoid them.
Selling Your Home in San Fernando, CA
When it comes to selling a home, there are many considerations and costs to keep into account. The process can become overwhelming, which means it is vital to have a plan in place. Having an idea of the costs can allow you to go through the process in a more effective manner. Have a look at everything you need to know about selling your home in San Fernando, CA.