Seller FAQs
It’s known that the home buying process comes with many frequently asked questions and the home selling process is no different. Whether you’ve never sold a home or have sold half a dozen, there are many questions that come along with the process. This is certainly due to the fact that selling a home isn’t a process that is practiced regularly by home owners and also that rules, regulations, and the industry change on a daily basis.
The top frequently asked questions from home sellers begin to accumulate before even starting the home selling process. If you’re going to be selling your home, it’s suggested you are prepared and have a strong understanding of the process. Many times the best way to understand the process and be well-prepared is by asking questions.
The importance of knowing how to interview an agent when selling a home certainly cannot be overlooked. A top real estate agent should be able to reduce the amount of questions a home seller will have when selling a home because they will address many of these frequently asked questions before they become a question.
Table of Contents
What is a real estate agent?
A real estate agent, or broker, is a person who represents buyers or sellers of real estate. While many brokers work independently, agents usually work under a licensed broker to represent their clients in Indiana. Both brokers and agents are licensed by our state to negotiate sales agreements and manage the documentation required for closing real estate transactions. Buyers and sellers are generally advised to consult a licensed real estate professional before buying or selling a home or property.
What is an Multiple Listing Service (MLS)?
A multiple listing service (MLS) is a database established by cooperating real estate brokers, in a particular region, to provide data about properties for sale. An MLS allows brokers to see each other’s listings of properties for sale with the goal of connecting homebuyers to sellers. Under this arrangement, both the listing and selling brokers benefit by consolidating and sharing information and by sharing commissions.
What does pending mean in real estate?
A pending status on a home in Indiana indicates that the seller and their agent are confident the sale has passed its major hurdles and is on its way to closing. This also means that the provisions on a contingent property were successfully met and the sale is being processed. It’s also important to note that there are three different types of pending statuses: (1) Pending: Taking Backups, (2) Pending: Short Sale, and (3) Pending: More Than 4 Months. Taking Backups status indicates that although the real estate listing is pending, the seller is still showing the house and accepting backup offers. Short Sale means the property is going through the short sale process with the mortgage holder and it’s likely the property is further along in the process and not accepting backup offers. Last, More Than 4 Months status happens automatically in the MLS when a listing has been pending for more than 4 months. This could be an indication that something about the pending sale transaction is taking longer than it does on average. It may also be that the real estate agent forgot to change the status from Pending to Sold after closing.
How do I sell my Indiana home now?
Are you on a tight deadline to sell your Crawfordsville house? While we may not be able to pay you cash for your home today, we can typically buy a home in a matter of days or weeks, while other real estate companies in Indiana will take anywhere from 3-6 months. It all depends on how quickly you want to move along in the process. Let’s talk about your home, your situation, and your options. Contact us today!
Should I sell my Indiana home now?
This all depends on your situation and location. It also depends greatly on what you plan to do AFTER you sell your home. Are you buying another home? Are you planning to rent? We can help you find the best time to sell your house. Please contact us today for a free home selling consultation.
Is now a good time to sell a house in Indiana?
We all know that the housing market in Crawfordsville has been all over the place the last few years. We’ve seen the demand for homes steadily increasing along with prices. For that reason, we don’t want to post an answer to this question that will be outdated in a few months. Please contact us today for a free home selling consultation.
Why you should stop waiting to sell your home in Indiana?
Don’t wait too long to sell your home in Indiana. At Bentley Real Estate, we offer a service that helps homeowners in need of a quick solution due to a number of different circumstances, like foreclosure, mortgage troubles, relocation, probate, and much more. The longer you wait, the worse these circumstances will become. Act now and you can have cash for your home in two to four weeks.
What should I do before I list my house in Indiana?
Getting ready to sell your house in the Crawfordsville area? There’s 11 things you can do to prepare before working with an agent: (1) find a great real estate agent or realtor (like Bentley Real Estate), (2) consider your curb appeal, (3) declutter the living areas, (4) depersonalize your space, (5) repaint walls to neutral tones, (6) touch up any scuff marks, (7) fix any loose handles, (8) add some plants and greenery around the house, (9) perform a smell test, (10) clean everything, and (11) hide your valuables.
How can I get my house ready to sell fast?
We typically recommend three easy steps to get your house ready to sell fast in Indiana. First, understand your home’s value and how much you’re willing to sell it for. Next, take inventory of what you want to take with you and what you’ll want to leave behind. We buy houses in as-is, any condition, so don’t worry about leaving behind any junk or clutter. We’ll also handle any repairs, fixes, or maintenance needed on the property. And last, contact Bentley Real Estate to request a fast and free cash offer on your Indiana house.
Is it better to sell a house empty or staged?
The answer to whether or not it’s better to sell a house empty or staged really depends on your selling strategy. If you decide to list your house with an agent or realtor, it’s definitely recommended that you stage your home. On the other hand, if you decide to sell to a cash home buyer, it’s better to sell a house that is empty or not staged because most cash buyers will buy your home as-is.
How can I stage my home cheaply?
If you decide to list your Indiana house with Bentley Real Estate, we recommend that you stage your home properly. Our team will help with staging your home but there’s also some tips to help prepare your staging on a budget: (1) Remove clutter to set the stage for a fresh look, (2) Hire professional cleaners to tidy up, (3) Create curb appeal, (4) Rearrange the furniture for clear pathways, (5) Paint it neutral, then layer on some color, (6) Give every space a sense of purpose, (7) Let in natural light, and (8) Use mirrors to simulate more square footage.
What makes a house worth more?
There are a lot of different factors that will impact the value of a home in the Crawfordsville area. The top two factors are age and condition. Typically, homes that are newer will appraise at a higher value. But there are a lot of other things that can add value to your home. Consider updating to energy-efficient appliances, freshen up your curb appeal, update your kitchen and bathroom(s), finish your basement, and get rid of any junk or clutter.
What brings down property value?
There are 11 easily avoidable factors that can bring down the value of your home in Crawfordsville: (1) lack of curb appeal, (2) exterior damage, (3) old or outdated kitchens, (4) old or outdated bathrooms, (5) tacky decorations, (6) incomplete or unintentional renovations, (7) unfinished DIY projects, (8) damage and smell from pets, (9) damage and smell from smoking, (10) wasted space, and (11) expensive water features like pools and hot tubs.
What makes a house harder to sell in Indiana?
When it comes to estimating the value of a home in Crawfordsville, many homeowners tend to only think about the things within their control, like asking for too much, clutter, junk, or bad decor. It’s true that these are the types of things that can bring down the value of your home. But have you ever considered the things outside your control, such as short sales or foreclosures in your immediate area? Even if those homes are not directly comparable to yours, as in same square footage or the number of bedrooms and baths, they are in your immediate neighborhood, so can make the entire area depreciate in value.
What stops a house from selling?
The most common reason a property fails to sell in the Crawfordsville area is an unreasonable asking price by the seller. An asking price that’s too high is the surest way to increase your days on market and have a non-starter listing that buyers simply ignore.
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