How to Get the Most from Selling Your Old House

Buying a new home is a very exciting time. For many Shea Homes® buyers, this excitement is accompanied by the task of selling their previous home. Here are some tips to help you get out of your old home and into your new Shea home.

Home Is Priceless (But a House Is Not)

Your house may be worth a different amount from when you first purchased it: market trends, changes to the neighborhood, improvements to the house or property, outstanding maintenance issues, and the age of the home are just some of the factors that could affect valuation.

For a general estimate of what you could get for your home today, check local listings on residential real estate websites or use an online valuation calculator. You can ask a real estate agent or professional appraiser for more specific guidance.

Be mindful that you may not receive the full amount from the sale of a house, even if you own that house outright. You could pay fees, taxes, commission, and repair costs before all is said and done.

Consider a Pre-Sale Inspection

While not required, you may want to hire a professional to perform an inspection on your home early on. This way, you can address up-front anything that could hold up the closing process or affect the home’s sale price.

Stage the House for the Buyer, Not for You

You will want potential buyers to be able to picture themselves in this house. Lock up any valuables. Stow away your family photos and other personalized items. De-clutter surfaces such as bookshelves, fireplace mantles, and floating cabinets. Paint over intense-looking walls with neutral colors. Look up design trends (like the ones on Shea Homes®’ Pinterest) to see how you can update your interior design for maximum appeal.

Keep your house and the surrounding property clean and in good repair. Things like stains, dirty laundry, or broken furniture might leave visitors with a bad impression. Do your best to eliminate odors throughout the house. If you have pets, you may want to remove your pets from the house while it is being shown. It can be difficult to show your home to buyers while also living in it, but just remember, it’s nothing personal.

Online Photos Are the New Curb Appeal

In today’s market, many buyers find their future homes on the Internet first. Adding your home to an online listing site could make a big difference when selling!

Your home will need to be staged for photos. Consider getting professional-quality photos of your house. If you make major visible changes to your home, such as repainting a room or installing a closet organization system, replace the photos so that buyers have a better idea of how the house looks. And of course, make sure the other information in your online listing is accurate and up to date.

Talk to Trusted Experts

The only stupid question is the one not asked. Compare notes with friends, family, and neighbors who have bought and sold houses. Consult your real estate agent. Clarify your status with your lawyer and/or tax advisor. Even if you feel confident in the direction you are heading, talking to others about your experiences could yield solutions to problems you didn’t know you had.

Moving can cause lots of stress, too, so prioritize your mental health. Keep the people who live with you involved in the process. Find a neutral third party to support you in times of doubt. Take breaks. Remember that a beautiful new Shea home waits for you at the end.

This is not an offer of real estate for sale, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, to residents of any state or province in which registration and other legal requirements have not been fulfilled. Pricing does not include options, elevation, or lot premiums, effective date of publication and subject to change without notice. All square footages and measurements are approximate and subject to change without notice. Trademarks are property of their respective owners. Equal Housing Opportunity. Home pictured may not be actual home for sale or actual model home, but rather a representation of a similar model or elevation design. Models are not an indication of racial preference. Payment of commissions dependent on broker, buyer, and seller entering into seller's written commission agreement.