Mark Thompson’s Ultimate Guide to Selling Your Home in Jackson

When selling your home in Jackson, it can be tricky knowing where to start. Timing a home sale correctly can have a large impact on your success, while partnering with an agent will give you access to all the knowledge and professional resources you’ll need. Jackson itself attracts buyers with its annual events like Wellsfest in September, its several arts and history museums, as well as great neighborhoods like Bridgewater and Palisades. Follow these home-selling tips when listing your property.

To make sure it’s a good time to sell your property, research local market trends. Usually, sellers aim to list properties during a seller’s market or when there isn’t enough housing supply to meet buyers’ demand. This leads to more buyer competition, higher median prices, and an overall quicker sale. Factors that impact a seller’s market include seasonal trends, the economy, new construction, and mortgage rates, among other things.

Currently, there is very little housing supply in Jackson to meet buyer demand, which is good news for sellers. This is due to outsourcing construction in the city’s suburbs. Home prices are also on the rise compared to last year. However, home prices in the city are lower than in surrounding areas. 

Another important step to take as a seller is to partner with a local agent who’s well experienced, like Mark Thompson Realtor. Sellers who try listing properties themselves often experience longer listing times, lower offers, and may make costly mistakes. When working with an agent, they’ll know the ins and outs of the process and can explain them to you while providing access to professionals you might need, like a home stager, a professional photographer, or a home contractor.

An agent can also help you competitively price your property by making a comparative market analysis. An agent will factor in other things like location, condition, and square footage. They can also help you time your home sale within market conditions that favor buyers and within the high rental rates of the area.

The next step is to prepare your property for sale. Sellers may consider getting a home inspection before listing, as it can help uncover hidden issues that can be deal breakers later down the line. Also, make smaller repairs like painting over blemishes, fixing sticky drawers, and repairing leaky faucets. Although upgrades aren’t necessary to sell your home, carefully selected projects that buyers in the area are interested in can help boost interest and home value.

Then, make your home presentable by giving it a deep clean. A mess will repel buyers, which is why it’s important to dust services, mop and sweep floors, and eliminate odors from food, shoes, or pets. Then, declutter each room, getting rid of belongings you no longer need. This will open spaces in the home. To stage, take down family photos, redecorate in neutral tones, and let in natural and artificial light. For maximum effect, stage specific rooms like the kitchen, living room, and master bedroom.

To stand the best chance of competing against other homes for sale in Jackson, MS, an agent will list your property on the local MLS. This is where buyers’ agents search for listings for their clients and where other public platforms get their listings from. To create a listing, take professional photos of your home, write a description explaining the features of your property, and provide information about the community for buyers unfamiliar with the area.

For properties in Jackson, sellers may include location information like nearby music venues at Duling Hall and Martin’s Downtown, The New Stage Theater for performing arts, and diverse restaurants offering international cuisine on the local and award-winning level. To market your listing, an agent will use tools like social media, their own website, signage, local flyers, and connections with other agents in the area to schedule home showings.

As buyers become interested in your property, review different offers for their pros and cons. An agent will help you review a buyer’s financial background and explain the differences between types of financing and contingencies added. As a seller, you can either reject the offer, accept the offer, or make a counteroffer. Make changes to the offer price, terms, and closing dates until you reach an agreement with a buyer that you’re satisfied with.

Sellers closing on homes for sale in Jackson, MS, should prepare for a few closing costs, which your agent can help predict. Some buyers require a home inspection, and if anything serious shows up in the process, sellers may have to reenter negotiations. Then, prepare for the home appraisal, which is required for buyers financing with a mortgage. As the home goes into escrow, a seller must review documents like state-specific forms, property information statements, and other contracts to complete the sale. An agent can help you understand legal documents so you know what you’re signing.

Follow the steps above for a smoother home sale process when listing in Jackson. Enlisting the help of a local realtor is the best way to sell a home, as they’ll have the information and resources you need to sell successfully. When you’re ready to start your home transaction, contact experienced local agent Mark Thompson to guide you through the process.