Time to sell? Homeowners should do their homework before selling a house

MOSES LAKE — Anybody thinking about selling a home in Grant County in the summer of 2021 may need to think about buying one.

But Nate Pruneda, real estate broker at Imagine Realty Group in Moses Lake, said the local market is good for sellers.

“Inventory is super-low,” Pruneda said. “We’re seeing such low inventory and such an influx of buyers that for every house that hits the market there’s probably 10 to 15 buyers ready to put in an offer on that house. You sell your house, and that’s great, but what do you move into?”

Pruneda said a lot of his clients are moving from one area to another. Some want a bigger house as their family grows, and some are looking to downsize as kids move out. Others are facing changes in their lives.

“Generally, when you’re listing your house you want to declutter, and mainly in this market, that’s it. (Homeowners should perform) general maintenance and stuff like that. But I’ve seen some pretty questionable houses hit the market and get off the market just as fast.”

The right broker can help make the process smoother.

“I think a lot of the sale is the broker you pick, too. Their marketing techniques and stuff like that,” he said.

A homeowner should pick a real estate broker they like, he said.

“You’re going to be working with them for 30 to 45 days, maybe longer,” Pruneda said.

A homeowner should look at an agent’s organizational skills and whether the agent shows consideration for his clients.

“One thing that has turned clients off is how busy their agents are. If you’re trying to contact an agent and they never answer their phone, maybe that’s something that raises a red flag,” he said. “And maybe even have them show you what their marketing is like.”

Pruneda said he uses some of the tried and true methods, like flyers and open houses, along with newer tools, like social media. But in a very active market, most strategies seem to work.

“It seems like I’m just as busy this year, and in 2020, as I was the year before (2019). If not a little bit busier,” he said.

It’s the result of increased demand.

“That’s really the driving force behind everything, is the demand,” Pruneda said.

Sellers also need to think carefully about an asking price. If the asking price goes over a certain threshold, the seller will have to do an appraisal. An agent will do a market analysis, comparing the house with similar houses in the area, which helps establish a price.

“The appraisal is going to have a lot to do with the sale of the house,” he said.