4 tips for a stress-free home sale

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If the thought of listing and selling your house is already giving you a headache, you’re not the only one. It’s no secret how stressful a traditional home sale can be — from attending open house after open house to drawn out price negotiations. 

But good news: There are factors within your control that can help make the process of selling your home a smooth experience. Here are some steps you can take to ease the stress of selling your home.

1. Ask yourself: Am I ready to sell?

Before you kick off the logistical process of actually selling your home, try starting with a broader question: Why are you selling your home? To relocate for a new job? To downsize? To live in your dream home?

Understanding the “why” for moving and discussing it with all parties involved will act as your home selling North Star and help guide your decision-making from start to finish.

Once you’ve nailed that down, you can start looking at your home sale from a financial perspective. That might look like:

  • Researching to see if now is the right time to sell your home, taking into account factors such as current interest rates and home sale data in your market
  • Consulting a real estate agent or using a home valuation tool to see what your home is worth today
  • Calculating your current mortgage balance, estimated closing costs, and, if applicable, prepayment penalties and subtracting it from your home price to get a better idea of what you’ll actually make on your home sale.

If that amount is less than what you want, consider delaying your home sale and wait for the real estate market to improve or until you have additional equity in your home. You can also discuss this with your real estate agent.

→ Gather these documents you need to sell a home 

2. Map out your timeline

While the time frame for selling your home can vary depending on many factors out of your control, it’s good to map out a general timeline of milestones to keep your expectations in check.

If you plan on selling your current home and buying a new home at the same time, things can get a little tricky. In a perfect world, you would sell your old home first before buying your new one, but often that’s not possible.

That’s where planning out a step-by-step timeline will help you keep your priorities in order that delay your move. That might include deadlines to complete repairs, lock down the house you want to put an offer on, and locking down a short-term rental or lodging between moves.

You also have options like working with Orchard. We can help you make a competitive, non-contingent offer on your dream home before needing to sell your current one. Plus, we’ll help line up your closing dates, so you can avoid double moves or overlapping housing costs.

3. Get your house ready to sell

You’ve probably heard of terms like “move-in ready” and “turnkey” when hearing about what homebuyers look for in a new home. Ensuring your home is in tip-top shape, both aesthetically and foundationally, is one of the most effective ways to attract potential buyers and sell fast.

On the outside, you can boost your home’s curb appeal by applying a fresh coat of paint, repairing broken windows, touching up your landscaping, and anything else that might affect your home’s first impression.

Inside your house, there are a number of home improvement projects you can take care of to get your home ready to sell, for example:

  • Decluttering your home
  • Repainting the walls
  • Repair any significant issues in the house
  • Patching holes in the walls
  • Replacing broken HVAC systems
  • Repairing the roof

This process can take up a good chunk of time and money, so plan and budget accordingly to avoid delaying your home sale.

→ Here’s a guide on how to get ready your house ready for sale

4. Vet all (yes, all) potential buyers

It can be tempting to wrap up the process as quickly as possible, but try not to take the first (or even highest) offer for your house. When deciding between offers, make sure that your prospective buyer has their home financing ready to go. This can help speed up the closing process and reduce the risk of the offer falling through.

  • Ask any potential buyers to bring a pre-approval letter from a mortgage lender, which will show that the lender is willing to finance the buyer’s purchase of your home. 
  • If you receive a cash offer for your house, you can request a proof of funds letter instead to confirm that the buyer has the money to buy your house.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your home selling journey, the team at Orchard can help. Our goal is to make home buying and selling simple and stress-free. That means removing the stress and uncertainty that comes with the traditional process, from costly repairs to contingent offers. Start by getting a free home valuation.

Orchard gives a guaranteed cash offer — and so much more

We provide peace of mind that your home will sell, plus list your home on the market to maximize your earnings.

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Sell for more with value-boosting improvements

When you list with Orchard, we’ll get your home show-ready and make repairs to increase your home’s value at no upfront cost.

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Buy a new home knowing you’ve sold your current one

Orchard guarantees your home will sell, so you can buy your next one worry-free.

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Orchard gives a guaranteed cash offer — and so much more

We provide peace of mind that your home will sell, plus list your home on the market to maximize your earnings.

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How much can I make selling my home?

Use our home sale calculator to estimate your net proceeds.

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Don’t navigate the market alone

Our Home Advisors are experienced local agents who know how to sell for top dollar and help win your dream home.

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Let’s match you with a real estate agent

All Orchard Home Advisors are experienced agents who know your local market inside and out. Request a consult today.

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Orchard is 30% more accurate than leading estimates.

Close faster with a cash offer

Did you know cash offers are 4x more likely to be chosen by a seller? Let us help you make one on your next home.

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Estimated Net Proceeds
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Orchard is 30% more accurate than leading estimates.

Know what your home is really worth

Get the most accurate free home valuation — in minutes

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Estimated Net Proceeds
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Orchard is 30% more accurate than leading estimates.

Stand out to sellers with a cash offer

A cash offer is 4x more likely to be chosen by a seller. Get qualified today.

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Orchard can help you avoid overpaying additional selling and moving costs
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Estimated Net Proceeds
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Total Cost to Sell
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Orchard is 30% more accurate than leading estimates.

Don’t miss out on your dream home

Make a cash offer now, and Orchard will sell your old home after you move.

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Estimated Net Proceeds
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Orchard is 30% more accurate than leading estimates.

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Tell us your must-haves to see personalized home recommendations that meet your criteria.

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Estimated Net Proceeds
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Orchard is 30% more accurate than leading estimates.

The stress-free way to buy and sell

With Orchard, secure your dream home before you list. Avoid home showings, rentals, and double moves.

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