Sara’s Advice for First-Time Home Sellers

Whenever a first-time home seller comes to the decision to list their home, this decision often includes a bunch of questions about what needs to be done. When you follow these tips and partner with a real estate listing agent, a lot of the stress and unknowns around selling a home are taken away. Let’s dive in.

Q. What should you expect when selling your home?

In general, once you’ve found an experienced real estate agent, this listing agent will guide you through getting your home ready for sale. From the time you sign the listing agreement to marketing the home and wrapping up the closing, your agent should be by your side guiding you through every step and process through the transaction.

Your agent will encourage you to move forward with decluttering and home staging to showcase your home at its best. This is an excellent time to decide which furnishings and household items will go with you on the move to the new home and which can be donated or put out for trash or recycled.

This is also a prime time to take care of any necessary repairs to help make the transaction and any secondary negotiations go a bit smoother once you are under contract. These proactive repairs can make your home even more attractive because not all buyers are interested in moving in and being faced with projects.

Q. Is taking photos really a big deal?

The visual appeal of a home is one of the top things that sells a home. Good lighting shows the actual appearance of the rooms and the property. Photos showing whole rooms give an accurate sense of space and perspective. This allows prospective buyers to imagine how they would arrange their furnishings and judge what would fit. This is where your agent will have a conversation with you about home staging and its important role in selling your home.

Q. What should I do with the pets when we have a showing?

Even the friendliest of pets can feel stressed when strangers are walking from room to room in your home. Not all people coming to a showing will be a pet lover. Seeing your pet’s toys or food dishes could lead a buyer to quickly reject your otherwise beautiful home for reasons related to them not being pet people instead of anything relevant to your home’s layout, location, or the number of bedrooms. It’s best to take your pets with you when you leave for a showing and put away their things.

Q. What types of costs can a home seller anticipate?

Typically, the seller’s closing costs may include any/or all of these items: lender payoff fees, property taxes, HOA dues, HOA document and transfer fees, escrow fees, title fees, transfer taxes, and realtor compensation. Each deal is different and may be negotiated to cover varying costs.

Q. What advice do you have for knowing how to pick an offer?

Look for these key elements to a great-for-you offer:

· Does the buyer’s offer include a pre-approval letter? This important letter indicates there is lender approval that the buyer qualifies for a mortgage up to a specific amount. There is less likelihood for the funding to fall-through.

· Does the offer include an earnest money deposit? The larger the down payment, the more serious the homebuyer. This is a signal the buyer is invested in making this purchase and seeing it through. The buyer’s earnest money deposit goes toward the down payment if he eventually closes on the home. On the other hand, if the buyer breaks the contract and walks away from buying the home, you can potentially keep the deposit as a consolation.

· Which conditions, fixes, or closing costs are negotiable? As your REALTOR® I’m an expert at negotiating the best deal for you. We’ll discuss which items you are flexible on and which can’t be changed and then I’ll guide you in reviewing the offers with these factors in mind.

· Does the closing date work for you? There are many moving pieces to the sale of a home and one big piece is around the both the closing date and the move date.

Q. Will there be taxes on the sale?

While the Texas capital gains tax on real estate does not exist, your real estate may still be subject to federal capital gains tax. To calculate the amount of tax owed on a real estate sale, it is best to consult with a financial advisor or CPA.

It’s natural to have questions when you’re a first-time home seller and no question is silly…or one we’ve not answered. So, don’t hesitate to reach out to schedule a call and we’ll get all of your questions covered.

Since 2004 Sara Lyn Nguyen continues to bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise about buying and selling real estate around the Houston area to those she serves. Sara is a multi-year award winning REALTOR® and relocation specialist where her clients trust her to have up-to-date information on the real estate market. She has been one of Gary Greene’s Multi-Million Dollar Top Producers, and citywide was the #2 Top Producing agent in 2020, #3 in 2021, and #2 in 2022. When it’s time to buy, sell, invest, or relocate speak with a trusted professional knowledgeable in the homes and neighborhoods of Fort Bend/Sugar Land and the surrounding region.