The process of selling a house can be time-consuming and stressful. Although there are other options, most sales in Alabama are done traditionally.
If you are ready to sell your home and choose to go through a realtor, here are the steps for that process.
Time the Market and Find a Realtor
Deciding when to sell your home can have a big impact on how fast your home sells and how much it sells for. In Alabama, the best time to sell a home is in the late spring and summer. There are far more buyers looking for homes from May to August than in the fall and winter months.
Once the time is right, do your homework and find a good realtor that understands your goals. Ask friends and family members for referrals and meet with a few different realtors before making your decision.
Your realtor will help you set an appropriate price for your home, and then you are ready to list!
Stage and List Your Home
Home staging is not required, but it really helps attract potential buyers. Spend a little bit of time and money cleaning up your house and preparing it to have new owners. Next, your realtor will help you get professional photos taken of your home to include with the listing.
A good realtor should list your home on all the home listing websites and get a for sale sign in your yard.
Host an Open House and Schedule Showings
This part of the process of selling a house is the most taxing for homeowners since it requires you to keep your home sparkling clean while strangers walk through it in your absence. Virtual showing and open houses are becoming more common, though most buyers still prefer to walk through the property before making an offer.
Offers, Negotiations, and Due Diligence
With any luck, after the open house you will have at least one offer to read over. Your realtor will help you understand the offer and make informed decisions when it comes to accepting offers or countering.
Once you accept an offer and are under contract, the buyer will typically schedule an appraisal and inspection of your home. The buyer pays for these, and all you have to worry about is staying out of their way while they complete their due diligence.
Closing Paperwork and Alabama Disclosures
While most states require seller disclosure of any problems with the home before closing, Alabama does not. It is a “Caveat Emptor” state, which means “buyer beware.” Simply put, buyers in Alabama assume the responsibility to find any problems with the home during the period of due diligence.
There are still plenty of Alabama-specific forms that need to be completed, and your realtor will walk you through them. Once you and the buyer have signed the closing paperwork, you are finally finished with the home selling process.
Local Home Buyers Offers Another Option
Does the process of selling a house seem long and complicated? Local Home Buyers offers a better way to sell your Huntsville, Alabama home. We will buy your home in any condition without the need for a realtor, staging, home showings, and open houses. Just give us a call, and we will make you a cash offer in just a few days!