Steps to Selling a Home in Cable, WI

Thinking of selling your home in Cable, WI or the surrounding Northern Wisconsin? It's important to understand that if you expect to make money on your home, you've got to give yourself plenty of time to prepare, and that can mean starting to plan months ahead of the date you'd actually like to move out of your home. Here's what to expect when you list your home in Northern Wisconsin.

scenic waterfront home in northern wi


find an agent

Step 1: Find an Experienced Cable-Area Agent

This is a crucial first step! Enlisting the help of an experienced agent who understands your needs to guide you through the process will save you time and a lot of headache—and will of course get your home sold more quickly and for more money than trying to list your home on your own.

Find out more about our qualifications and experience!

home improvements

Step 2: Consider Repairs and Improvements

Your real estate agent will do a thorough walkthrough of your home and will likely make recommendations on both minor and major repairs or improvements you should consider. Additionally, be proactive about any known maintenance issues to your home, as these will surface during an inspection. This will ensure your home looks its best and brings the highest price.

Value-boosting home improvements can include projects such as painting your home (inside or outside), refinishing floors, fixing or replacing your roof or siding, installing a new garage door or front door, doing some gardening or landscaping, updating or repairing your HVAC system, or even performing minor kitchen and bathroom repairs.

determine selling price

Step 3: Set the Price Right

Another crucial step to ensuring the highest return on your valuable investment in the shortest amount of time is finding a competitive price. Your agent should perform a comparative market analysis (CMA) that identifies what properties similar to your have recently sold for and what prices similar properties are being offered at.

professional photos

Step 4: Prep Your Home

Work through your home, removing clutter, junk, and even personal decor. Start deep cleaning your home, really targeting the forgotten nooks and crannies. Then, work with your agent to stage your home so that it is neat, welcoming, and depersonalized.

Take professional photographs that will highlight your home's best features and give buyers a great impression of your home—right from their computer, tablet, or phone.

Because many buyers in the area are searching for vacation homes or homes suited to a particular outdoor lifestyle, be sure you include your yard in your home's photos and descriptions. Does it have a dock? Is it waterview? Close to CAMBA trails? Does the neighborhood have a beach or any other amenities? Don't forget these things, as they can be more important than the house to certain buyers.

market your home

Step 5: Market Your Home

The key to selling a home is in finding the right buyers, and that requires a lot of marketing and advertising. This is where working with a skilled agent can really pay off. Skilled listing agents are skilled marketers. They know where to find the best buyers for your home, and they have access to a wealth of resources, including online listing services, print advertising distribution, large social media followings, even local agent networks.

home showings

Step 6: Show Your Home

In addition to scheduled open houses, your home can be shown at any time, so be prepared. Keep it neat, clean, organized, and staged. Don't leave dirty dishes or laundry lying around, be sure to dust and vacuum regularly, and promptly address any potential clutter buildups. Additionally, you should be ready to clear out of the house during showings to avoid making buyers uncomfortable.

buyer and seller negotiations

Step 7: Negotiate and Accept an Offer

If a buyer wants to buy your home, they will make you a written offer, which usually states how much they'll pay, their mortgage amount, closing and occupancy dates, and any contingencies. Your agent will help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of all offers and assist you in negotiation the best offer available.

Negotiations can include your own contingencies, such as a first right of refusal if your buyer's offer is contingent on selling their home, making the offer contingent on you buying another home, or adding contingencies for closing and occupancy dates or buyer financing.

sign an agreement

Step 8: Sign a Purchase and Sale Agreement

Once you and the buyer have agreed upon an offer, you will both sign a legal contract called a Purchase and Sale Agreement. This outlines the specific terms, conditions, and contingencies of the home sale.

home inspections

Step 9: Cooperate with Inspections

Next, the buyer will hire an inspector to ensure that no major repairs will be needed after they buy the house. The inspector will go through every inch of the house, paying particular attention to the roof, basement, heating and cooling systems, structure, plumbing, and electrical. If the inspector finds any needed repairs, the buyer can negotiate for the costs of the repairs.

enter escrow

Step 10: Enter Escrow

Next, you will enter escrow. During this time, you and your agent will work with an escrow company to complete paperwork and ensure that all parts of the contract are complete.

give your keys

Step 11: Sign, Pay, and Close!

Your agent will coordinate all aspects of the closing, including ordering title insurance, drafting the deed, transfer return, and other necessary closing documents. On a predetermined closing date, you and your buyer will sit down with your agents to sign all the paperwork and pay all your fees. You will relinquish your keys and your property title, and you will receive a check for the remaining balance after the remainder of your mortgage is paid to your bank. Congrats—you have sold your home!


Ready to Start Selling Your Home in Cable?

The first step is to contact us! From home staging and professional photographs to negotiations and closing paperwork, we're here to be your home selling guide, every step of the way! Call us today to learn more about how we can help you successfully list and sell your home in Northern Wisconsin! 

Not quite ready to start selling? That's okay; we've got plenty of resources to help you learn more about selling a home!

Northern Wisconsin Home Selling Resources

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