The dreaded home sale. From packing up years worth of belongings to having strangers tour your home (and peek in your drawers), the process of selling your home can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. We are here to debunk some of the biggest myths about selling your home so you can go into the process feeling informed, confident and excited for the next stage of your home life.
Myth #1: Selling a home is time-consuming
It can be, but it doesn’t have to be. Especially with new companies available that can help manage the entire process from end to end, like OfferPad. These services can be especially valuable to people who need to sell quickly or have inherited a home that needs to be sold and assets divided, but also to homeowners that have dealt with the pain points of selling a home and want a better option. What used to take weeks or even months is now truncated to just a few days – you can submit a request online and 24 hours later have an offer in hand.
Myth #2: Professional staging is necessary
During the housing boom in the early to mid-2000s, home staging became popular: professionals would come into your home, remove all your belongings, and re-imagine the home with all new furniture. Studies seemed to show that homes that were staged would sell for more, but you have to pay for the service…so net-net you weren’t getting much of a boost. You can get the benefit of staging by doing it yourself:
- Remove excess furniture and put away any personal pictures.
- Get rid of excess clutter, and clear off all surfaces so you can really see the space beyond the chairs and tables.
- Clearing out in advance helps when it comes time to pack things up and move.
Myth #3: The “fresh baked” smell
Agents once believed that the smell of baking – cookies, pie or bread – evoked a sense of home that would help sell the home faster. In reality, no smell is going to sell your home for you. There is a multitude of factors in play that contributes to getting a signature on paper, and most of them have to do with the home itself, the neighborhood, school system, and price. So save the cookies for later and focus on details like a clean home.
Myth #4: Expensive upgrades are a necessity
You are planning to move, and going to put in stainless appliances and granite countertops now? Seems silly to pay more for upgrades – not to mention the time and disruption in your life – that you won’t be able to enjoy. Many homebuyers want to put their own stamp on a home as well. Investing in some fresh paint and plants that improve curb appeal are a yes, expensive remodels are a no.
Myth #5: You need a realtor to sell your home
This is false. To be honest, in most situations, you do not need to find a realtor to sell your home. You’ve already found the right place (OfferPad) to get a quote on selling a home, and the best part is that you don’t even have to learn how to sell a home by owner! Simply enter your address and get an offer to sell your home.
Myth #6: Home selling has a season
It’s true that home sales pick up in the spring and fall off during the winter, but that is mainly due to weather than one season being preferred to another. You don’t have to wait for April if you need to sell in November – the best time to sell your home is when you need to sell it.