When Buying & Selling Homes, Here’s What You Need to Do First

Estero, Florida, is a vibrant and growing community in Lee County, featuring beautiful beaches on Estero Bay, a thriving downtown area, and a friendly atmosphere. The community is south of Cape Coral and Fort Myers and north of Bonita Springs and Naples. Estero is becoming an increasingly popular destination for tourists and permanent residents due to its warm climate, outdoor activities, and excellent school system. You can find a quiet place to retire, a lively place to raise a family, or a fun place to vacation.

For most Estero homeowners, buying and selling property means balancing their future purchase with the sale of their existing home. Doing both simultaneously can be challenging, but completing tasks in the right order and executing them with thoughtful preparation is essential. Here’s what you need to know about buying and selling a home at the same time and how to navigate this process with ease:

The first step to buying and selling a home is finding a local real estate expert. A professional agent can help you understand the market, price your property competitively, search for new homes, and negotiate contracts. They can also assist you with the logistics of moving, such as coordinating showings and scheduling closings. Working with a knowledgeable agent can streamline the process and ensure a successful outcome. 

After finding the right real estate agent, the next step in buying and selling a home at the same time is to map out a timeline for each transaction. This timeline should include deadlines for tasks such as finding a new home, listing your current property, and completing inspections and appraisals. By creating a detailed plan, you can stay organized and ensure that your purchase and sale align smoothly. Your realtor can help you make an accurate timeline based on their experience of how long renovations take, how long it takes to find the right buyer, and how long buyers typically take to find a new home.

It is important to get pre-approved for a mortgage. By doing so, you can understand the financing options available to you, which can help you set a realistic budget for your new home. A pre-approval letter from a lender can make your offer more attractive to sellers and give you an advantage. Pre-approval does not guarantee final approval for a loan, but it does provide a strong indication of your eligibility and buying power.

 

Identifying your search area is essential to shorten your buying experience. By narrowing the neighborhoods or communities you are interested in, you can focus your search and better understand the local market and available homes. You can more precisely target homes and save time driving all over the city. Your real estate agent can provide accurate neighborhood data and information, such as school districts, nearby amenities, and property values.

 

Before viewing homes, outline what you are looking for, such as the number of beds and baths, property type, size, and amenities. Similarly, identify your non-negotiables so you know what is most important and what you are willing to compromise. Having a clear idea of your criteria lets you communicate effectively with your real estate agent and streamline your search process.

As a seller, getting a home appraisal is a crucial step in preparing your home for buyers. It involves a professional assessor determining the current market value of your property based on its unique features, size, condition, and other recent sales. An appraisal can help you set a price for your home and attract interested buyers. It can also identify any areas that may need improvement before listing your home. If you are unhappy with your appraisal, you can complete home improvement projects to increase your home’s value. Common renovations to add value and attract buyers include bathroom and kitchen remodeling, landscaping, fresh paint, and new cabinetry.

 

Home staging is an effective way to create a pleasing aesthetic and help buyers see your home’s potential. Staging is the process of removing personalization and creating a desirable design with upscale furniture and decor. It is most effective when sellers start when an empty space and allows professionals to add modern items, accenting your home’s features and amenities. With a high-end look, you can hire a professional real estate photographer to capture your home. These images will be used in marketing materials like online listing, brochures, and social media campaigns, to sell your home. As a buyer’s first look at your home, pictures are critical.

 

A comprehensive marketing plan targeting the right buyers is essential for selling your home quickly. Your realtor can help identify the right audience for your home and develop a strategy for reaching buyers. This may include online listings, social media campaigns, and open houses. With a custom approach to selling, you can increase the chances of finding a buyer interested in your home and willing to make an appropriate offer.

Donna Marcotte is an Estero realtor and long-time resident of South Florida. Donna has an extensive management, corporate sales, and customer service background, allowing her to understand the luxury lifestyle. Pinpoint your lifestyle needs and work with Donna to meet your Estero real estate goals.