Maybe you just found your dream home in Candler Park and need to sell your existing place. Maybe you just inherited a fixer-upper in Douglasville and can’t keep it. How do you get started?
Here is a convenient checklist for selling a house. It includes what to expect when working with a real estate agent, what you might need to do to sell FSBO (for sale by owner), typical steps to get your house ready to list, and how HomeVestors® can simplify the process.
Steps to take when you’re going to work with a real estate agent
The first step is to find and hire the right person to sell your house:
- Find the right real estate agent: When choosing an agent, look for someone you trust and feel comfortable with. Many sellers choose someone who comes with good reviews and knows their neighborhood. Remember, you can always ask potential real estate agents for references.
- Make sure you understand the commission fee amounts and the duration of the listing before signing an agreement: According to bankrate.com, the average commission fee rate in the state of Georgia was 5.81% in 2023. The amount of time you’re committed to listing with a particular agent can be negotiated, but the average seems to be between 3 to 6 months. The rules governing how real estate agents do business may have changed since the last time you sold a house, so read the paperwork carefully before signing, and get legal advice if need be.
Once you’re all set, you and your real estate agent will typically work together to sell your Atlanta-area property. This usually involves:
- Gathering neighborhood comps to come up with a listing price
- Providing your real estate agent with copies of your property survey, warranties, and other important documents
- Getting the interior and exterior of your house photographed
- Listing the property on the MLS
- Marketing your house through flyers, social media, yard signs, and other channels
- Organizing showings and open houses
- Negotiating offers, re-trading, carrying out due diligence, and completing the final purchasing agreement
With real estate agents, the process of selling a house can be seen as a partnership. Again, it is key to find a partner you can trust, preferably someone who knows your neighborhood and the Atlanta real estate market.
Steps to take for FSBO (for sale by owner)
The steps are similar if you’re going the FSBO route. The main difference is that you will be doing most of the work on your own. FSBO sellers typically:
- Research their own neighborhood comps to choose a listing price
- Take house pictures or hire a professional photographer
- Advertise the house on social media and other websites
- Put up yard signs that are visible to passers-by
- Gather necessary documents like land surveys and warranties
- Make themselves available to conduct showings and answer questions
- Negotiate offers
- Consult with an attorney to complete the closing process
Some sellers are comfortable doing everything on their own, while others may prefer an Atlanta real estate company’s support and expertise.
Getting your house ready for sale
Whether you work with a real estate agent or choose FSBO, chances are good you will want to:
- Declutter: Having organized rooms, closets, and storage areas should make it easier to sell your house. Donate, sell, or store what you no longer need. If you have a lot of items to get rid of, you can always rent a dumpster before you list.
- Look into cosmetic and home repair services you might need: Maybe your bathroom fixtures are dated or one of your kitchen cabinets has a broken hinge. Maybe you would benefit from having a handyman spend a day making minor repairs to your property. While you don’t necessarily need to fix every issue, you may want to correct problems that could turn off prospective buyers.
- Consider getting a home inspection: Your house may have issues that you are unaware of. Most buyers will need a home inspection before they can get financing, so getting one before you list can prevent any surprises when it’s time to close.
- Paint as needed: A fresh coat of paint can boost your chances of a quick sale. You may want to paint the entire interior and exterior of your house, or just focus on areas that need a refresh. Try to stick with neutral colors like whites, beiges, and greys.
- Deep clean: Clean and organize your house top to bottom. If you have carpets, rent a steam cleaner or hire a carpet cleaning service to come out. If this is too much to handle on your own, search for a good cleaning company or professional organizer.
- Deodorize as needed: Cleaning and painting should correct common odor problems in many houses. If you have odors this does not fix, it might be time to identify the source—especially if the problem is serious. If you choose to use products like scented candles and essential oils, be careful not to overdo it.
- Catch up on your landscaping: Now is the time to weed your garden, trim your trees, and take care of any lawn care needs you might have. You will want to keep up with yard tasks like mowing, edging, and raking while your house is listed. You can do the work yourself or hire a service.
- Consider real estate attorney options: In the state of Georgia, a licensed attorney is required to oversee the closing of real estate transactions. This attorney can be provided by the buyer or the seller and is under legal obligation to be fair to both sides. In typical cases, only one real estate attorney is needed.
- Disclose any material defects: A material defect is a problem with your house that affects its safety and/or resale value. Foundation issues and leaky plumbing are both examples of material defects. You also may have latent, or hidden, material defects associated with your property. High radon levels are common in the Atlanta area, especially in Barrow, Butts, Douglas, and Jackson Counties. A problem like high levels of radon could be considered a latent material defect. Under Georgia law, you are not required to fill out a seller’s disclosure form. You are required to disclose any material defects you are aware of. You are also required to give an honest answer to questions your buyer has about the property.
- Stow away any valuables and irreplaceable items: When you open your house to the public, there is always a chance that someone with bad intentions will show up. Storing your valuables in a locked safe, a secure place, or an offsite location is a smart move.
- Stage your house: Staging can involve renting or buying furniture and decor for empty rooms. If the house is occupied, you might want to remove excess furniture and household items. Go for a neutral look and remember, less is usually more.
It goes without saying that you’ll want to keep everything tidy while your house is listed. Some Atlanta homeowners hire housekeeping and lawn care services, while others handle the work themselves.
What you can do when you want to sell fast, “as is,” and hassle-free
There’s one final step to your checklist for selling a house—consider selling with an off-market buyer like HomeVestors®. If you’d rather skip the time and effort of getting your house ready and handling all the selling steps, we’re a great option.
HomeVestors buys all kinds of properties in the Atlanta area, including duplexes, townhouses, and single-family homes. We buy houses “as is,” so there’s no need to deep clean, stage, or make repairs. We don’t charge commissions, and we pay typical closing costs.† We can sometimes give you an offer on the same day as our consultation and potentially close in as little as 3 weeks.
HomeVestors has been in business across the US for over 29 years and has earned a 95%* nationwide customer satisfaction rating. Our team of Atlanta property buyers is standing by to help you out. Schedule a free, no-obligation walkthrough today.
This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.
