Sell | Sites Realty, Inc.

Why sell with Sites Realty, Inc.

When it comes time to sell your home, property or commercial location in the Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, area, reach out to the team at Sites Realty, Inc. We have an excellent reputation with a stellar closing rate and years of experience working with clients to sell their homes, and we stay hands-on throughout the process from start to finish. Transparency is a top priority with our agents, keeping you in the loop during the sale of your home. We accurately price your home using Adams County-specific comps, not calculators found on generic real estate websites. Our agents will also tour your home to create a written evaluation and accurately compare it to other area listings. Thanks to our wealth of local knowledge and understanding of the area, we’ve been the Pick of the County first place winner for 11 years in a row.

Call Sites Realty, Inc. today at 717-334-4674 to get started on your real estate journey with a knowledgeable agent.

Selling tips and information

Preparing your home for sale
First, contact your real estate agent to find out your home’s worth via comparative market analysis. Next, you’ll want to ensure the home’s appearance is in the best condition possible for showing to prospective buyers so that you can get top dollar. Fix or spruce up any trouble spots that could deter a buyer, like squeaky doors, a leaky roof, dirty carpet and walls and broken windows. Curb appeal is also very important as it is the first impression buyers get of your property as they drive or walk up. Ensure the grass is cut, any debris is removed, garden beds are free of weeds and hedges are trimmed.
When is the best time to sell a home?
The best time to sell, ultimately, is when you are ready or when it becomes necessary due to outgrowing your current home, needing to downsize or due to changes in your personal life such as marital status or a new job. Market and seasonal conditions can also play a role. For example, your chances of getting top dollar for your home are more likely in a seller’s market when demand outweighs supply. Local and economic factors may also dictate when the best time is to sell.
Disclosures

Disclosures could protect you from a potential lawsuit. Sellers in most states are required to fill out a form disclosing material facts about their homes, which are details about the home’s condition or legal status and the age of various components. Details that qualify as material facts that must be revealed by sellers include:

  • Damage from wood boring insects
  • Mold or mildew in the home
  • Leaks in the roof or foundation walls
  • Amount of property taxes paid annually
  • Problems with sewer or septic systems
  • Age of shingles and other roof components
  • A buried oil tank
  • Details about any individual who claims to have an interest in the property
  • Information about a structure on the property that overlaps an adjacent property

Things that are not material facts that don’t need to be disclosed include personal information about the seller and the seller’s reason for moving. Sellers may or may not also be required to state whether a death took place in the home or whether a home is considered haunted.

Selling a vacant home
Once furniture is removed from the home, you’ll notice all kinds of imperfections that were either hidden or you never paid attention to before — rips in the carpet, holes in the walls and overall dinginess. It’s a good idea to spruce things up, which sometimes can be as simple as a fresh coat of paint, or may require more in-depth attention like ripping up old carpeting or replacing the kitchen floor. If possible, leave a few simple pieces of furniture behind for showings, like a lamp, chairs and a table. Don’t forget that you will still need to keep up maintenance, such as dusting, vacuuming and lawn care. For older homes with radiator heating, consider shutting down and draining the heating system in the winter to save money, but keep the electricity on as lights will be needed to show the home.
How to get a quick sale in a slow market
One of the most important considerations is price. You may want to reduce the price of your home or set it at a lower price from the beginning to generate more buyer interest. Consider offering a cash incentive, such as a $1,000 to $2,000 decorating rebate upon closing to the buyer. Other common incentives that could be alluring to buyers include paying for the property inspection and warranty policy and getting your home preliminarily approved for FHA and VA loans, making it more attractive to a larger number of buyers.
Sell first or buy first?

The decision of whether to sell your current home first or wait to sell until you’ve purchased another home comes up often and is dependent upon your personal situation and the condition of the local housing market. Putting your home on the market first may have you scrambling to find another home before settlement, which may lead you to settle for a home that may not fully meet your requirements. It could also result in you having to move to a temporary rental property or into a relative’s home until you find your new house. However, if you make an offer to buy a home before selling, you may be tempted to get a quick sale at a lower price.

Buying a home first allows you the opportunity to shop carefully for the right home to feel truly comfortable with your decision, but selling first can maximize your negotiating position as you are under no pressure to sell quickly — and eliminates the need to carry two mortgages at once. It’s important to weigh all options and discuss with your agent which may be right for you.

Associated costs with selling a home
Besides the costs of making repairs and improving the overall appearance of the home, sellers also need to pay the following:

  • A real estate commission, if you use an agency to sell
  • Advertising costs, marketing materials and other fees if selling the home yourself
  • Attorney, closing or other professional fees
  • Title insurance
  • 1% transfer fee
  • Prorated costs for your share of annual expenses, such as property taxes, homeowner association fees and fuel tank rentals
  • Any other fees normally paid by the sellers in your area, including points, survey and appraisal fees
Other important information for sellers

Once your home is available to be shown, it’s important to do your best to keep it in tip-top shape to help buyers feel welcomed and not turned off by simple things like unmade beds, cluttered floors and grungy bathrooms. When selling a home, your life will be temporarily inconvenienced because when an agent calls wishing to bring a buyer to see the home, it’s important to respond favorably. Remember your goal is to get the home sold, and the best way for that to happen is to allow people to see it. Flexibility is key. Plan on not being around when buyers come through as it can make them feel uncomfortable. If you are unable to leave, sit in the backyard or outside and do not attempt to have conversations with the buyer. Finally, pay special attention to pets, particularly dogs. When possible, take your pets with you when leaving the home for a showing, or make sure they are properly secured in a kennel or on a leash in the backyard. Also, be keen to pet odors as they can quickly turn buyers away.