Seller’s Guide

Home Sellers Guide

Your home is not only your biggest asset, but it’s also the place where you’ve forged core memories and likely put in some sweat equity.  Now that it’s time to sell a place that holds your finances and heart, you want to ensure each step is done right.

That’s why we created this step-by-step guide to selling your home.

While your most important step in the process is choosing an expert real estate agent, it’s also essential for you to know what to expect along the way.  We’ll help you to feel empowered on your home selling journey, so that you can minimize your stress and have a successful sale.

Are You Ready to Sell?

You’re here, so you’re probably thinking about selling your home.  But are you really ready?  To cross over into listing your home for sale, you need to be fully confident that this is the right time for you to sell your home.

So, ask yourself these questions:

Personal Factors

Why do I want to sell?

Your why will keep you grounded and moving forward with the sale.  Really nail down why you’re moving.  Think about space, relocation, lifestyle, family, retirement.  And keep your eyes on the possibilities of what’s next!

Am I emotionally ready to move?

Don’t underestimate the emotional toll of selling your home.  Take time to process your memories and consider if there are any elements of the home that you want to take with you.  For example, did you let your children paint a wall, which became a special place in the house?  Consider taking a photo and putting it on a large canvas in your new home.

What’s my ideal timeline?

Your timeline may have a solid deadline due to a life event, which will push the sale along and dictate the urgency of meeting each point in the sale process.  Or you may have a more flexible timeline such as selling by the Fall or within the next 6-8 months, which will provide more freedom with the listing date, as well as the transaction process.

Where will I go next?

You don’t need to know exactly where you’ll live next, but you should have a general location in mind and determine if you’ll rent or buy.

Financial Factors

How much equity do I have?

Estimate the difference between the value of your home and the remaining balance on your mortgage.

What will it cost me to sell my home?

The typical cost of selling a home is between 10%-15% of the sale price of the home.  This will include the agent’s commission, closing costs, repairs, staging, and moving.

Will I buy or rent my next home?

Consider your lifestyle and financial situation.  If you’re buying your next home, you’ll be able to use your equity after the costs are taken out as your down payment.

What’s the housing market like?

While the best time to move is when it’s right for you, having an idea of whether it’s a buyer’s market or a seller’s market will help to inform your negotiating decisions.

Finding a Listing Agent

Working with the right team matters. When you start looking for a Realtor to help you sell your home, look for an agent who has sales in your neighborhood or zip code. Read reviews and look at the agent’s sales history.  Narrow down your search to 3 agents and interview each agent.  Not only is this person helping you sell your largest financial asset, but you’ll also be working closely with them.  It’s essential to find a real estate agent that you trust and who understand your priorities.

With the advances in technology, you may consider a For Sale By Owner option; however, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), sellers who used a real estate agent sold their homes for an average of 22% more than those selling independently. This is one of the best home selling recommendations you’ll get – use a highly rated, trusted local real estate agent. You’ll end up making more money than you would have saved if you sold without.

Refer to a Real Estate Agent Platform

Finding a real estate agent is challenging because there are many options, especially in major metropolitan areas. Many home sellers look to neighbors but their information could be dated and might not fit your needs.

Make your search simpler by using a real estate agent directory like FastExpert to connect with a top rated real estate agent. Our platform lets you see all the details, including prior client reviews, at a glance.

Review and Select an Agent

Another great tip when selling your home – don’t choose the first agent you meet. The key to how to sell your house is to create a shortlist of agents and get to know them.

Ask every agent on your shortlist how they maximize value for their clients. First, question them on their fees, selling processes, and negotiating steps. Find out what they think makes them an asset to your real estate selling journey.

Never choose an agent purely because of their fees. If it’s too good to be true, then it probably is. Discount agents give you a discount experience. When you are dealing with such a large financial transaction, you want the best.

Selling Your Home Without a Realtor

Many sellers consider how to sell a home by owner because they don’t want to pay any real estate commissions. But, unfortunately, while saving a few percent may sound smart, you’re opening yourself up to more work, stress, and potentially lower profits than with agent assisted sales.

Anyone can sell a home without a realtor by listing their homes on any popular real estate portal or even classified ad platforms like Craigslist. But if you don’t know the market or how to handle a complex real estate transaction, you will likely leave a lot of money on the table. You also can expect more buyers when using an agent and asking for a fair price.

If you are selling your home, the best recommendation we can make is to find a good real estate agent. The top ones will prove their worth quickly and tangibly. Check out FastExpert to see what realtors in your area can do for you.

Determine Home Value & Equity

After you decide to sell your home, one of the first home selling tips you should follow is to find the true value of your home in the current market.

Ultimately, your local market determines the value of your home.  Your neighbor’s home that sold 3 months ago is way more important in determining your sale price than a home that’s across the country.  While national home prices give a gauge on the overall health of the housing market, when you’re trying to sell your home, you need to look at what’s happening in your city and the blocks surrounding your home.

So follow this tip: If you want to sell your house fast, the first step is to price your property appropriately.

Assess Your Home Equity

Another home selling tip is to review the equity you have in your home. Equity is the difference between the value of your home and the remaining balance on your mortgage. For example, if your home is worth $450,000 and you have a loan balance of $200,000, your home equity would be $250,000.

U.S. homeowners today benefit from record home equity.  Leveraging your equity as part of your sale can enable you to put more money in your pocket.

Generally, most experts recommend holding at least 10% equity in your home before selling. However, if you’re upsizing, consider this tip and ensure a minimum of 15% equity to finance your move.

Estimate Costs and Profit

Is it even worth selling your home right now?

Sometimes life necessitates a move regardless of how profitable the move will be.  However, it’s still important to understand the cost of selling a home and the possible profits.

Typically, the cost of selling a home, including commission and closing costs, is 10%-15% of the sale price. You will also need to pay off the remaining balance of your mortgage.  What’s left is your profit.

It’s important to understand how much money you’ll walk away with after the sale of your home, especially if you’re purchasing a new home. That money can be used strategically towards a down payment.

>>Use the Closing Cost Calculator<<

Preparing to Sell

After reviewing the numbers and consulting realtors, it’s time to prepare your house for the market. This process is critical to selling your house quickly and with minimual fuss. Getting an idea of your local market conditions and deciding on a plan early can help you optimize the sale process and maximize your home’s value. Preparing to sell a home typically requires a lead time of two to six months, so planning ahead is essential.

Consult Your Agent For Necessary Repairs

Launching a wholesale renovation project isn’t necessary to sell a home. However, some repairs may be needed. For example, buyers will expect a significant discount if your home has structural or mechanical issues, so it’s better to address major issues prior to listing your home.

However even small areas of disrepair can be a turnoff for buyers. It often signals to potential buyers that the home may not have been taken care of. Take this selling tip – spend time fixing the small things and ensuring everything is in working order. This will show prospective buyers that your home has been cared for and is ready for new occupants.

Your goal is to make your home as marketable as possible in the selling process. First, work with your agent to order a pre-sale home inspection. A pre-sale home inspection can identify potential issues that you can consider repairing before showing your home to potential buyers. Home inspectors aren’t legally required, but they can flag any issues that could be a barrier to marketing your home for its maximum value. Inspections help identify potential issues and major problems that could affect the sale, so it’s important to fix them before listing. Making necessary repairs can help you save money and potentially increase your sale price. A home inspection can also serve as a ticket to preempting last-minute surprises during the sale process. Keep in mind that buyers may conduct their own inspection as a contingency in their purchase agreement, which can affect the sale process. Note: Working with real estate professionals, such as a realtor, can help guide you through necessary repairs and disclosures.

After an inspection, be aware of your state’s disclosure requirements if a pre-sale inspection uncovers an issue, always fill out the seller’s disclosure honestly to avoid legal issues later in the selling process.

Consider Effective Home Renovations

What is an effective home renovation?

Renovations should increase your home’s value while recouping most of its costs. Some renovations are more in-demand than others, with the most valuable home improvement projects being: Adding a wooden deck, replacing your home’s siding, a minor kitchen remodel, a minor bathroom remodel, a fresh coat of paint, garage organization, basement decluttering, and a kitchen cabinet refresh.

Focus on high-impact, low-cost updates rather than major renovations when preparing to sell your home, as these can help you achieve a higher price in today’s market. Investing in cost-effective updates can increase your home’s value, but make sure the improvements will yield a high return on investment and positively affect the sale price.

Anything that can increase your home’s appeal would be considered an effective home renovation. Talk to your agent about cost-effective home improvement projects. Your agent can make recommendations based on how much capital you have and how quickly you want to move.

Declutter and Depersonalize

Homes that are clean, decluttered, and without personal items everywhere tend to sell much better than the opposite. Cleaning removes distractions and gives the house a chance to shine.

Depersonalizing your space allows buyers to envision themselves living there easily. Making your home look nice can pay off when you start offering offers. Many buyers are turned off by family photos and personal items. A good selling strategy is staging and cleaning a home properly. These tips for selling will help you sell quickly. Declutter the garage, basement, and consider using a storage unit or renting one to temporarily store excess stuff and furniture. Removing personal items and excess furniture from rooms helps buyers envision themselves in the space.

Deep Clean Your Home

Keeping your home clean enhances the look and feel of your home. It allows you to highlight the most-coveted features of your home intelligently. There’s a real connection between home values and cleanliness, with clean homes selling for more than those presented “as is.”

Consider a full deep clean before taking photos and staging your home. Enlisting a professional company for a deep cleaning should only cost a few hundred dollars, but it’s an investment well worth making before your first open house. Clean windows and walls, and replace light bulbs to enhance the home’s appearance and make rooms appear brighter and more inviting.

Invest in Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is the impression your home gives off when seeing it for the first time. The average time to form a first impression is 27 seconds, meaning if you don’t nail it immediately, you have an uphill battle to sell your home.

First impressions matter. Don’t overlook the importance of the front door—consider painting or replacing it. A pop of color on your front door can be worth many thousands of dollars. Experts note that black doors have the highest resale value. And a new steel front door can often recoup 100% of its cost, providing a high return on investment.

Most agents agree that dolling up the front of your home should be a priority. The basics such as planting flower beds, adding fresh mulch, and maintaining the yard can significantly improve first impressions.

A well-kept garden with colorful flowers can add to the curb appeal of your home.

Also, a freshly cleaned home will draw in buyers. DIY pressure washing the driveway and sidewalks can improve the exterior appearance. Or a fresh coat of neutral paint and spruced-up landscaping are low-cost ways to make a great first impression.

To take it to the next level, consider investing in professional landscaping to give you an edge over the competition. Or use a professional power washer to clean exterior surfaces like driveways, patios, and siding.

Impressions matter, so focus on curb appeal to make your home house ready and home ready for sale.

Stage Your Home

When staging your home, every room should be set up to highlight its strengths. That may mean rearranging furniture—or removing a few pieces entirely—to make the space feel open, functional, and inviting.

In the living room, try pulling furniture away from the walls to create a natural conversation area. In bedrooms, less is more—editing out extra pieces can make the space feel larger and more relaxing. And in the kitchen, clear countertops go a long way in showcasing prep space and keeping the room looking clean and uncluttered.

Stage rooms with fresh flowers to create a welcoming atmosphere, and arrange furniture to make rooms appear more spacious and inviting.

Ultimately, the goal is to work with each room’s layout, not against it, so buyers can easily picture how they’d live in the space.

Note: Prepare for open houses and put your best foot forward to attract more buyers.

Home Selling Checklist

Preparation is the key to a successful home sale!

With everything you need to keep track of, don’t you wish you had a handy checklist?  Well, we’ve got you covered with the perfect home selling checklist below!

>>DOWNLOAD THE HOME SELLING CHECKLIST<<

Home Marketing

Marketing your home will determine how fast you can sell and the price you get for your home. This is where your realtor earns their commissions and why it’s essential to choose a top real estate agent.

Depending on the current market, you may get a lot of interest or just a few showing requests. Either way, making your home available to all buyers who want to see it will increase your chances of a sale. Keeping it in tip-top shape will also work in your favor when impressing potential buyers.

Professional Photos

Professional listing photos are critical, as most potential buyers will see your home online before visiting in person. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 95% of buyers used online tools to search for a home. Unfortunately, when buyers see bad-quality pictures that don’t show off the home well, they get easily turned off. Both the interior and exterior photos are important.

A top real estate agent should be able to recommend a professional photographer and help you schedule a professional photo shoot to ensure your home is presented well online. High-quality listing photos can influence the final sale price relative to your list price. Consider taking photos of your home throughout the year to showcase its appeal in different seasons.

Your agent will put your home on the multiple listing service (MLS), getting it in front of other agents and more potential buyers.

Tip: As you prepare your home for sale, start looking for your next home to ensure a smooth transition.

Promote Your Home Online and Offline

Curb appeal is what most people talk about in terms of selling a home. However, successful agents now talk about online appeal because how your home appears online is just as important. Spreading your reach across multiple platforms and brokerages is key to maximizing your reach.

You also need to think about offline sales. Your offline appeal applies to how your house looks when people visit and how your home looks in the window or catalog of a realtor.

Work with the right real estate agent that knows how to utilize both increases your pool of potential buyers and sell for top dollar.

Showings & Open Houses

Prepare for House Showings

To prepare for house showings, keep your home as clean and free of clutter as possible. Also, make sure you’re flexible. Narrowing down house viewing times will only lead buyers to look elsewhere. Allow other real estate agents to schedule time for their clients to view your home whenever possible.

Showing Your Home If It’s Vacant

If you’re selling your home and you’ve already moved out, the home still needs some TLC to make it shine for buyers.  Here are 3 tips to keep your home appealing to buyers, even if you’re not present:

1.  Stage the Home:  If you’re able to, hire a professional stager to furnish the main areas of the home and give it a lived in feel, even if no one is there.  This allows buyers to envision the best parts of the home and what it actually looks like with furnishings.
2. Maintain the Exterior: Hire a landscaper to mow, weed, and monitor the exterior of the house.  An exterior that is neglected will turn off buyers, even if the inside of the home is pristine.
3. Temperature Control:  It’s tempting to reduce your utility costs by not running the heating or air conditioning.  However, a buyer who walks into a freezing or stifling home will feel uncomfortable.  They may swiftly peruse it rather than taking the time that they need to picture themselves in the home.

Showing Your Home If It’s Occupied

Keeping your home “buyer-ready” while living in it is incredibly challenging, especially when children are involved.

1.  Establish Easy Clean Routines:  Keeping your house picked up and perfect at every second of the day isn’t realistic.  So, establish practices of quick pick up options if a buyer is coming and you don’t have time to put away every item.  Laundry baskets are great for gathering all the random items.  Toss the items in and put the baskets in your trunk.  The goal is to quickly get the clutter away!
2. Make a Daily To Do List: Showing your home requires next-level cleanliness.  At normal times, you might leave those toothpaste splatters on the mirror, but not now.  Create a checklist of heavily used areas that need daily cleaning, and note the problem places that tend to gather clutter.
3. All Hands on Deck:  Enlist the help of everyone living in the house to keep it pristine.  If kids are involved, give them responsibilities and rewards for picking up and keeping the house clean.  Celebrate together when the job is done!
4. Pets Away:  You love your pets, but they can be an issue for others.  From fear to allergies, there are serious reasons for pets to be away during the showing.  The best option is to completely remove the pet from the home.  If that’s not possible, ensure that they are safely in a cage.
5. Make Yourself Scarce:  Hanging around your house is distracting and potentially intimidating for buyers. In addition, it’s not uncommon for buyers to feel unable to express their opinions honestly when the current owner is lurking in the background. Remember, the goal of a house showing is to allow potential buyers to imagine themselves living in that space.

Review Offers & Negotiate

Yahoo!  All of your hard work cleaning, staging, and making yourself scarce has paid off!

You have an offer, or perhaps multiple offers, on your home.  But don’t relax yet! This is a critical stage in selling your home. How you handle negotiating the offer at hand will determine the outcome of your sale.

It’s essential to lean on your real estate agent who can help guide you through the process of reviewing offers in the current market, ensuring you understand prevailing trends and make informed decisions.

Review Offers and Accept – Key Points

All offers must be reviewed in line with your priorities before the home sale.

Key Points to think about when evaluating your offer:

Purchase price: While it may seem obvious to think about the purchase price the buyer offers, it’s important to note that the money you walk away with encompasses more than that price. Look beyond the listed number. We’ll talk more in detail about this below.

Contigencies: These are the special requests from the buyer or the elements that could allow the buyer to back out of the contract. Read these carefully because they can add up and erode your net profit.

Closing date: Make sure that the closing date works for you. You don’t want to rush to get out of your home, but you also don’t want to drag out the contract. The longer the contract stays open, the greater the chance of something negative happening.

Buyer Financing: Determine how the buyer will be paying, whether that’s cash or a loan. Cash offer are the strongest, but buyers with financing can also be solid. A strong offer will typically include a pre-approval letter from the buyer’s lender, which increases the likelihood of a smooth closing.

Evaluating the Purchase Agreement

The purchase agreement encompasses the purchase price, contingencies, and special requests. When reviewing an offer, it’s important to look at each element to determine not only if the price is optimal, but also if you’re willing to agree to the terms presented.

Let’s say Buyer A is willing to offer the full asking price of $300,000, but they want you to pay the closing costs and give them the pristine leather couch in your living room. You might think hooray, I’m getting the full asking price! However, you’d be giving the buyer approximately $15,000 in concessions, meaning you’d net $285,000 from the deal.

On the other hand, Buyer B offers you $290,000 with no special requests. While you might initially turn away from this lower offer, after reviewing the details, you’ll walk away with more money from Buyer B.

It’s essential to read the contract thoroughly and understand the financial implications of each point.

Contingencies

What is a contingency? Contingencies are conditions that must be met in order for the real estate transaction to close.

Normal contingencies are home inspection, financing, or appraisal.

If anything unusual arises, it allows the buyer to renegotiate the contract or back out if an agreement isn’t met.

Be prepared. Typically, the home inspection will reveal some issues. It’s up to you to decide what issues to fix, fund, or ignore. This is a critical point in the negotiation because you want to balance your own profit while also being fair to a serious buyer who could walk away if you can’t agree.

Buyer Financing

While cash offers are the strongest and won’t get delayed by a lender, they may offer a lower purchase price because of the stability provided.

Most buyers will need financing and will take out a loan. You can still review the buyer’s financial strength and examine their pre-approval letter.

The loan approval process can impact the feasibility and timing of the sale, so offers with verified financing are generally more attractive.

What if you’re not getting offers?

If you aren’t getting offers, talk with your agent. They may have feedback and tips for selling that will make a huge difference in getting multiple offers. You can always change to a lower price or offer financial incentives to buyers. Not all homes sell fast or lead to bidding wars, but if you list at the best price, you can expect to get offers.

Remember to be mindful of making emotional decisions. As much as this home means to you, it is still a business transaction.

Navigating Contingencies

The contingency stage of home sales is a time of holding your breath and hoping for the best.

There are often issues that arise, so don’t be discouraged. This is a normal part of the home selling process, and with an expert real estate agent, you can navigate this stage flawlessly.

Let’s understand the different contingencies so that you can rock this essential stage of home selling like a pro and be one step closer to a successful sale.

Why Contingencies Matter

What is a contingency?

A contingency is anything written in a home purchase agreement that makes the offer conditional. Bascially it’s things that need to happen and be agreed on before the sale closes.

Why are contingencies important?

Contingencies serve to protect buyers and sellers by allowing them to back out of the deal if a condition isn’t met.

In general, contingencies protect the buyer more than the seller. It’s important that the buyer is able to inspect the home, see its flaws, and decide if they still want to proceed with the deal.

If issues arise, it’s back to the negotiating table, where buyers and sellers can usually reach a mutually beneficial agreement based on the new findings.

Common Contingencies

The most common contingencies are:

–Home inspection contingency

-Appraisal contingency

-Financing contingency

-Home sale contingency

We’ll dive into each of these more below so that you know what to expect and save your fingers from nail-biting stress.

Home Inspection Contingency

Buyers want to know exactly what they’re getting with their massive financial investment. Even if you had an inspection before listing your home, most buyers still want to have peace of mind about the integrity of the home with their own inspection.

So, an inspector will visit your home and look at every detail from the nails in the roof to the corners of the basement. A detailed report is written up, along with recommendations of what should be addressed before purchasing the home.

The buyer then decides what issues are most important to be fixed or credited before the sale finalizes.

The seller can choose whether to fix, fund, or decline the items selected for repair.

Aside from the initial offer, these negotiations can be suspenseful. However, both parties are invested at this point and can usually come to an agreement. Rely on your expert real estate agent for negotiating these contingencies, and be flexible. It’s not worth losing the deal over minor repair requests.

Appraisal Contingency

In the high-stakes process of selling your home, the appraisal contingency is a critical hurdle to understand.

Simply put, an appraisal contingency is a clause in a purchase agreement that allows the buyer to back out or renegotiate if the home’s professional appraised value comes in lower than the agreed-upon purchase price.

What to Expect at an Appraisal

Prepare for the appraisal like it’s a showing. While you may have started packing, try to have the home orderly and clean so that its best qualities show and the appraiser sees the home has been cared for.

Prepare a detailed list of recent improvements and make notes about upgrades throughout the home. You can also talk to your agent about providing a list of comps for the appraiser.

If the appraisal comes in below the offer price, it means the lender will only finance based on the appraised value, not your offer price. So, there’s a gap. Don’t panic. It’s time to renegotiate and get past the final hurdle.

In all negotiations, there are creative solutions, but generally, with an appraisal gap, there are 5 options:

-The buyer covers the difference in cash.

-The seller lowers the sales price.

-Meet in the middle with a price reduction and a partial cash payment.

-Dispute the appraisal. Provide comps and an argument for the higher price.

-Walk away from the deal.

-While it can feel like a bit of a gut punch to receive a low appraisal, it’s generally not a deal breaker.

Financing Contingency

A financing contingency is a clause that allows the buyer to cancel the deal without penalty if they are unable to secure a mortgage.

While the buyer may have been pre-approved based on an initial creditworthiness estimate, they still need to secure final loan approval. If the buyer hasn’t made any large purchases and has been upfront with finances, the loan is generally approved.

As a seller, you don’t need to do much during this step (phew!), but it is important that your real estate agent includes strict lender contingency deadlines to ensure the buyer provides proof of funding.

Home Sale Contingency

A home sale contingency is a condition that makes the purchase of your home dependent on the buyer successfully selling their current property.

While this is understandable for a buyer to add this contingency, as a seller, it can be a gamble.

Talk to your real estate agent about your options for continual marketing of your home or fallback clauses that will provide some protection for you if the buyer backs out of the deal.

You’ve Got This!

Contingencies are your last big hurdle before closing! With your expert knowledge, you’ll be able to navigate contingencies like a pro!

Closing the Sale

After accepting an offer and completing any negotiated repairs or contingencies, you’re finally approaching the finish line: closing day. Assuming both parties are satisfied with the agreed-upon price and condition of the home, it’s time to finalize the details of the transaction.

Your real estate agent will work closely with the buyer’s agent, title company, and lender to ensure everything is completed smoothly and on schedule.

Review Your Settlement Statement

Before closing, you’ll receive a settlement statement outlining all of the financial details of the transaction. This document provides a complete breakdown of the fees, credits, and payments associated with the sale.  It’s essential to understand exactly what fees you’re paying so that you’re not surprised on closing day.

Common items included on a settlement statement are:

Real estate commissions

Property taxes and prorations

Title and escrow fees

Mortgage payoff amounts

Lender and recording charges

Take time to review every line item carefully. If you notice any discrepancies or charges you don’t understand, ask questions before closing day. Your real estate agent and title company can help clarify any concerns.

Receive Your Sale Proceeds

Once all closing documents have been signed and the transaction has officially funded, you’ll receive the proceeds from the sale of your home. In most cases, funds are delivered by wire transfer directly to your bank account, though some transactions may still allow a cashier’s check.

Keep in mind that timing matters. Closings completed late in the day, on weekends, or before holidays may delay the transfer of funds until the next business day.

Understand Potential Tax Implications

Depending on your situation, the sale of your home may have tax consequences. Many homeowners qualify for the capital gains tax exclusion if they have owned and lived in the property as their primary residence for at least two of the five years preceding the sale.

Current IRS guidelines allow eligible homeowners to exclude:

Up to $250,000 in capital gains if filing as an individual

Up to $500,000 in capital gains if married and filing jointly

In addition, if you’re using the proceeds from the sale of your home to buy another home, you can avoid capital gains tax.

Because every situation is unique, it’s wise to consult with a tax professional before selling. They can help determine your eligibility and identify opportunities to reduce your taxable gain through documented home improvements and qualified selling expenses.

Moving Out

With the sale complete, it’s time to transition to your next home. While packing and moving are the most obvious tasks, there are a few important details you shouldn’t overlook.

Transfer Utilities

Schedule utility transfers carefully to avoid service interruptions. It’s generally a good idea to keep utilities active through the day after closing in case there are any recording delays or last-minute issues.

If you’re moving into a new home, arrange for service activation in advance. Some utility providers require several days’ notice or an in-person appointment before turning services on.

Remember, once you turn off your utilities, some companies can take 24-48 hours to turn them back on at your new place, especially if a technician needs to visit your home. So ideally, your utilities should always be kept on for a short time.

Change Your Address in Your Accounts

To ensure you continue receiving important mail, submit a change-of-address request through the USPS before your move. Ideally, complete this process at least two weeks before closing to allow sufficient processing time.

Don’t forget to update your address with:

Banks and credit card companies

Insurance providers

Subscription services

Employers

Government agencies

Family and friends

Taking care of these updates early can help prevent missed bills, delayed deliveries, and unnecessary stress after your move.

Congratulations!

Selling a home involves many moving parts, but reaching the closing table is a major milestone. By reviewing your closing documents carefully, understanding the financial details, and preparing for your move in advance, you can help ensure a smooth and successful transition to your next chapter.

Real Estate Market Trends

One of the most important home selling tips is understanding the housing market before you list your home. While your FastExpert agent is a great guide in understanding your local real estate market trends, it’s helpful if you have a basic understanding of what’s going on.

So, let’s get down to it.

Real estate market trends are the shifts in mortgage rates, housing inventory (supply), buyer demand, and home prices that shape local market conditions and directly affect how quickly a home sells, the offers it attracts, and the final price.

Today’s housing market is influenced by many factors, including mortgage rates, inflation, housing inventory, new construction, job growth, and the overall economy.

As these conditions change, the market can quickly shift from a seller’s market, where demand is high and inventory is low, to a buyer’s market, where buyers have more choices and greater negotiating power.

For U.S. home buyers and sellers, reading those signals early can mean pricing a listing more accurately, competing more effectively, and making better timing decisions.

While national headlines provide helpful context, real estate is ultimately local, so this section explains how to compare national and neighborhood-level trends, what market indicators matter most, and when local knowledge, or advice from a local real estate agent, can help you make a smarter move.

Pay Attention to Your Local Housing Market

Start by understanding national real estate market trends, then narrow your focus to what’s happening in your local market.

Lower housing inventory (fewer homes for sale) often pushes more buyers toward existing home sales, increasing competition and helping support home prices.

Improving supply gives buyers more options, leverage, and opportunity to negotiate favorably. As it stands today, inventory is slowly increasing nationally as more homeowners become active in the market, and housing inventory has grown over the past year.

The number of homes for sale is a key factor in determining your listing price and something you should take note of when selling your home and setting expectations.

The Impact of New Construction

Home prices and buyer demand can be significantly impacted by the amount of new construction homes in the area.

For example, if home builders across the country are slowing construction because high costs of labor and materials continue to keep new homes expensive, there may be fewer new homes available and less competition. This allows your home to stand out and possibly be viewed by more buyers.

But, maybe, the area you’re selling in has a growing population and new subdivisions are popping up all over. If this is the case, you’re competing against the incentives that builders are offering to entice buyers to their properties.

The Influence of Community

Next, look at what’s happening in your community. Local economic conditions, especially strong job markets, can support demand and prices. Local factors often have a greater impact on your home’s value than national trends. Affordability is improving slightly as wage growth in the past year begins to outpace inflation, though the latest data still shows conditions vary by area. Watch for things like:

New schools, businesses, or major employers moving into the area

Infrastructure improvements or expanded transportation

Low housing inventory and increasing buyer demand

Seasonal trends that affect the local housing market

Recent sales of comparable homes in your neighborhood

Whether your area is currently a seller’s market or buyer’s market

These local conditions can influence buyer demand, the number of days your home stays on the market, and ultimately the price buyers are willing to pay.

Ask a Local Real Estate Agent

While online market reports provide valuable information, nothing replaces the expertise of an experienced local real estate agent who can interpret the latest data, including how interest rates affect demand, affordability, and timing.

A knowledgeable agent understands current housing market trends, neighborhood-specific home prices, buyer demand, and how mortgage rates are affecting purchasing power in your area. Currently, the average mortgage rate is higher than it has been in years; however, it’s still within a very typical range.

Even with higher mortgage rates, buyers are still out there. Mortgage applications increased by 7.8% in July 2026, which helps confirm shifts in buyer activity from week to week.

When is the Best Time to Sell Your Home?

Often homeowners wonder when it’s the best time to sell their home. The short answer is, the best time to sell is when it’s right for you.

However, talking to a knowledgeable, local agent can be useful in determining the best time to list your home. Your agent will also help you develop a competitive pricing strategy using local median benchmarks such as listing price and days on market. An expert agent will walk through your home, provide an analysis, recommend improvements with the highest return on investment. Finally, your agent will market your property to attract qualified buyers.

Understanding your local housing market—and partnering with the right real estate agent—can help you sell your home faster, maximize its value, and make confident decisions regardless of whether you’re in a seller’s market or a buyer’s market. A full-service professional, whether you call them a real estate agent or realtor, can help sellers prepare, review budget-sensitive buyer behavior, and interpret financing trends.

FastExpert Takeaway

The best time to sell your home depends on your local housing market, not just the national headlines. Housing market predictions should be used carefully because most experts do not expect a housing market crash in 2026. Home prices are expected to rise by 1.7% in 2026, with national house prices broadly projected to see 0% to 2% growth in the following years rather than decline.

By understanding housing market trends, mortgage rates, housing inventory, buyer demand, and home prices in your area, you can stay informed about what to expect from local inventory, demand, and pricing instead of relying only on headlines. A knowledgeable local real estate agent can interpret these market conditions, recommend the best pricing and listing strategy, and help you achieve the strongest possible outcome.

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