In general, data from the National Association of Realtors shows that the average home is on the market for 62 days. It varies greatly by state, of course. In Vermont, for example, the average house has 186 days on the market. In Washington, it’s a mere 37. Again, it’s important to understand how quickly your home might sell in your specific market.
There are two main factors that determine how much your home is worth: its condition and the level of demand for homes like it. To gauge what your home might command on the open market, your best bet is to look at comparable sales. Make sure they’re of similar size and condition to yours.
Also called “comps,” these are what a real estate agent would use to determine appropriate pricing for your house.
An agent can guide you through a home sale by listing the home, coordinate photography and showings, market the property, and walk you through to closing. They’ll also have access to local market data that can help you price and market your home appropriately.
Interview multiple candidates, and get referrals from family, friends, and coworkers. You should also check out past client reviews and make sure they offer the level of customer service you’d prefer.
You can certainly get a seller’s inspection before listing your house. Though not all sellers do this, it can help you better prep your property to sell.
You can usually expect a home inspection to come into play once you’ve accepted an offer on your house. The buyer will hire a local inspector to evaluate their property, and they may request that you credit them for a few repairs based on the inspector’s findings once they’re done (that amount would come out of your proceeds at closing).
From a logistical standpoint, you usually don’t have to do much before an inspector arrives. You or your agent will need to give them access to the home, and you’ll need to make sure they are able to navigate your entire property — including any attics, crawlspaces, or basements.
