If you are considering selling your home, one of your first questions might be about how long the process will take. While every sale is unique, there is a process in place that applies to most sellers. Knowing the length of the process can have a big impact on your personal finances and moving plans, so your agent will work with you to give you a realistic timeline specific to your home. This will depend on a variety of factors.
Selling Your Home: How Long Does It Usually Take?
Finding and Meeting With an Agent
Before doing anything else, every seller needs to find a real estate agent they like who can sell their home. This step can take about a week or two if you’re interviewing a few agents, but much shorter if you use our real estate agent search to help.During your initial consultation when selling your home, you and your agent will build a marketing strategy for your home as well as agree to a listing price. They will also advise you on the next steps in getting your home ready for viewing.
Staging Your Home and Taking Photos
Your real estate agent will advise you on the best way to stage your home so it is ready for photos and showings. This process depends on how presentable your home already is, and if you need to take any time to move certain items or clean. On average, this process takes about a week.Once the home is ready for photos, your agent will have a photographer and videographer visit your home to take stunning photos of your property. Since 95% of home searches start online, having high-quality photos is essential.
Marketing and Showing Your Home
After prepping your home for viewing, your agent will get your listing up on the MLS and showings will start to be scheduled. The time your home sits on the market is dependent on many factors. Some homes enter escrow within a week, and some need to wait for the right buyer when selling your home.
Accepting an Offer and Closing
Once the offers are in, you and your agent will go over them. If you accept an offer as-is then you can enter escrow right away. Most sellers negotiate the terms, going back and forth a few times before an agreement is reached. This can take a week or two.
Once the offer is accepted, you will enter escrow which typically lasts about 30 days. During this time, the seller completes their inspections and, in most cases, the bank funds their loan.
The location and condition of your property are two of the biggest variables that will determine how long your sale will take. And while there is no crystal ball to tell you exactly how long, a good rule of thumb is to plan for the entire process, from finding an agent to getting your money in the bank, to take around three months. Contact Hershey Real Estate Group today and let us connect you with an experienced real estate agent that’s right for you.
