What No One Ever Told You About Selling a Home for the First Time

Located in Bergen County, Edgewater is a New Jersey borough stretching along the Hudson River and providing residents and visitors with breathtaking views of the New York skyline. However, the beauty isn’t the only thing that draws residents and visitors alike to the area; Edgewater presents an urban upscale feel with a variety of high-end restaurants like River Palm Terrace and luxury shopping options throughout Edgewater City Place. A variety of adventures are waiting to be had, from leisurely walks along the Hudson River Water Walkway, which stretches over 18 miles from Bayonne to the George Washington Bridge, to spending the day at one of the many parks throughout the borough, such as Veterans Field Park. And with all the luxurious Edgewater homes for sale on the market, it's easy to understand why so many people have chosen to call this piece of New Jersey home.

The Edgewater real estate market is booming, and if you need to sell your home for the first time, now might be the perfect time to do it. However, it’s essential to remember that there are many moving pieces to the process. From budgeting for the financial costs associated with selling to preparing your home to be listed, there are numerous hurdles to overcome.

Using a local real estate agent to help sell your home is highly beneficial, as they will not only have insider knowledge of the Edgewater, New Jersey, real estate market.

Studies show that 85% of those who used a real estate agent would recommend that agent in the future. While it’s possible to sell a house without the help of a professional, it’s not recommended. An expert agent will handle all the ins and outs of the process, from paperwork to negotiating. They’ll be a master marketer, showcasing your home’s best features to a wide range of motivated buyers to receive maximum interest. As a seller listing your home for the first time, you will want to work with an agent to avoid mistakes and ensure success.

Selling your home is both a financial experience as well as an emotional one. It does not matter if you've lived in the house for five years or 25 years; you've made memories in that home, and it can be hard to let go. Because of this, you may be at risk of pricing your home for more than it's worth because, to you, it has additional emotional value. However, over-listing your house can cause it to sit on the market for a longer period of time.

Getting a home inspection lets you know upfront if there are any issues with your house that you might not have been aware of. By getting a pre-inspection before listing, you will have time to make any essential repairs or upgrades that will help your home sell, such as replacing window frames or upgrading the plumbing in the bathroom.

One thing that can trip up first-time sellers is deciding what items inside the home they’ll be taking with them or leaving behind for future buyers. If you plan on leaving behind furniture or appliances, this will need to be in writing and included in the sales contract. Removing items that were not included in the contract can give the buyer a chance to back out of the sale or refuse to close until the item is returned. Anything that is attached to the home and not put into writing when the sale is complete is no longer yours.

However, this process can be tricky, as the definition of what qualifies as an attached fixture on a property is different for every area. Speak with your New Jersey real estate agent to stay current on state laws, ensuring you don’t miss out on items inside your home that you do not want to part with.

Unfortunately, selling your home is not free. You will need to pay your agent and the buyer’s agent for their hard work through commission fees, which are typically a small percentage of the home’s overall sale price. However, this isn’t the only cost involved when selling.

Depending on location, you will have to account for transfer and recording fees, title insurance fees, and property tax from January up until the date of the sale. You'll want to be ready to pay for a pre-home inspection and appraisal, notary fees, and other necessary costs.

Buyers viewing your home want to be able to picture themselves living there, which is nearly impossible to do when all of your personal mementos are around every turn. Before listing your home, you'll need to pack all of that away.

Homes professionally photographed were viewed 61% more than ones that were not. On top of that, experts found that 23% of selling agents saw increased selling prices of staged homes at a rate of one to five percent. When working with Team Francesco, you’ll have access to a highly experienced in-house stager and a wide range of helpful services, from cleaning to arranging for furniture to be moved.

Team Francesco is a highly reputable and skilled real estate group offering custom-curated services to clients purchasing or selling Edgewater, NJ, real estate. They have over 25 years of combined experience and use their expertise to help sellers prepare their homes to shine on the market, ensuring favorable outcomes and a high return on their investment.  From start to finish, Team Francesco treats each and every one of their clients like family, exceeding expectations and providing the highest level of customer service. To find out more about how these experts can help you, contact Team Francesco today!