A Cheatsheet for Buying & Selling Your Home with Less Stress

A Cheatsheet for Buying & Selling Your Home with Less Stress

  • Yvonne Summerfield
  • 12/15/22

There are a lot of steps that go into buying and selling homes. Real estate is a changing industry that is often unpredictable. The ups and downs of selling a home are stressful and frustrating, but you do not have to go through the process alone. With professional guidance, you can have realistic expectations and a support system in place to help you make important decisions. Make buying and selling your home less stressful with this cheat sheet:

Create a plan

Buying and selling your home can be time-consuming and stressful, but with the proper preparation and support, you can make the process much easier. As with any project, you need clear goals and expectations. If you try to buy or sell your home without considering essential questions, you will feel overwhelmed and stressed. Before diving into the process, consider things like:

  • Why do you want to buy or sell your home?
  • What timeline do you have to buy or sell?
  • Do you need a specific selling price to buy another home?
  • Are you financially sound to cover the costs of buying or selling?
  • Do you want to buy and sell simultaneously?
Once you understand your basic needs and priorities, it is easier to move forward toward your end goal. As you go through the process, you can look back at your plan for encouragement and direction when you need to make decisions.

Stay organized


Staying organized is key when buying or selling your home. Have a designated place for all important paperwork and keep track of deadlines. Create a schedule with showings, open houses, and a to-do list to help you stay on top of everything. Delegate tasks to other household members or work closely with a realtor to monitor the process and keep you updated. Organization with materials like calendars and folders can help calm your nerves and reduce stress.

Work with a local expert

Working with a realtor can reduce the stress you may feel when buying or selling your home. A realtor is a professional familiar with the ins and outs of the real estate industry and can help you navigate the process. They can provide information about the market, help you find the right home, and negotiate on your behalf. Realtors can also offer guidance and support throughout the process so you don't feel overwhelmed. They take on most of the work involved with buying or selling, such as finding acceptable homes, marketing to potential buyers, creating a strategy, preparing paperwork, and creating or reviewing offers. With a local agent on your side, you can relax and allow your realtor to make the process seamless.

Tasks for buyers

When buying a new home, you want to ensure you find the perfect property that meets all your lifestyle needs. Take it one step at a time and enjoy the experience of looking at beautiful Destin homes for sale.

Preapproval


Before looking at new homes, preapproval can help you start your search in the right direction. Preapproval is when mortgage lenders assess borrowing limits based on income, debt, credit score, and other pertinent factors. Even if you feel like you have sustainable cash and income, it can be helpful to get preapproved to eliminate any delays when you want to purchase a property. Preapproval allows buyers to set a budget and move more quickly through the process with reputable financing in place.

Location and purpose

Location can be one of the most stressful parts of buying a new home because you want to make the right choice. Working with an expert local agent can provide insight into different neighborhoods and quickly eliminate areas that do not suit your needs. Destin has many properties with benefits and amenities like single-family homes, maintenance-free living, and investment properties. Starting your search with a clear location and purpose can make it less stressful and more successful.

Open houses and showings


You can reduce time and stress by looking at listings online and narrowing your search. Once you understand your needs and available homes on the market, you can work with your agent to attend open houses and showings to get a better feel for neighborhoods.

Make a strong offer

When you find your perfect home, your realtor will craft a strong initial offer and negotiate on your behalf. Having a skilled agent who advocates for your needs and can secure the property is critical.

Tasks for sellers

Stay calm and watch your home transform into a desirable property to attract potential buyers. When you let go and allow professionals to assess your home, you can sell quickly and for a higher price.

Home appraisal


A home appraisal is one of the first steps in the selling process, as it establishes the value of your home. The appraiser will look at similar homes in your area that recently sold and compare them to your home. They will also consider your home's size, age, and condition. The appraisal will give you an idea of how much your home is worth and help you price it appropriately. It is better to have all the information about your home upfront than to encounter surprises later in the process.

Update and stage


Your home appraisal can also help you determine if you want to make any updates or renovations before listing your home. You can work with a designer to assess your home and provide plans for updates and staging. Once changes are completed, you can stage your home to accentuate its best features and amenities.

Marketing plan

Your expert real estate agent will market and advertise your home to ensure the right buyers see your home. You do not always need to show your home to 100 potential buyers because it only takes one right buyer to make an offer on your home. Focus on your target audience and work with your agent to create a strategy.

Review offers

It may seem like a long process, but with expert guidance, you will receive offers on your home and have it sold in no time. When requests come in, you do not have to worry about reviewing them and choosing a buyer. Your realtor will screen offers and break down important information so you can make simple and informed decisions.

Work with Yvonne Summerfield

Yvonne Summerfield is an expert Destin real estate agent with almost two decades of experience in luxury and investment properties. Her honesty and dedication can make buying and selling your home less stressful. Start your journey today.




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As one of RE/MAX's top selling agents nationwide and worldwide, I am uniquely qualified to help you with your real estate needs along one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. It is my privilege and goal to be of service to you, providing exceptional representation with the highest levels of integrity, discretion and professionalism. For over 20 years homeowners have entrusted me to represent them in over half a billion dollars in real estate transactions. I'm ready to help you with a purchase or sale by providing you with outstanding service and outstanding results.

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