11 Real Estate Tips to Sell Your First Home Like You’ve Done This Before

By the time you’re ready to sell your first house, you’ll no longer be that starry-eyed buyer who imagines roses and rainbows behind every home with great curb appeal. Every month of housing payments, every surprise plumbing leak, and every hour spent tending to the yard hardens you into a more seasoned homeowner.

But as for selling your house? Welcome to brand-new territory!

Surveys show that a significant portion of new homeowners — around 80% or more — have regrets. Sellers, too, can experience the pangs of “what-if?” What if I’d waited to sell? What if I’d negotiated differently? What if I’d taken more time to make the house look amazing? 

At this moment, you’re someone with a lot of money on the line and no direct experience. That’s intimidating. However, rest assured that there are ways to increase your odds of selling fast and at full price, even as a first-time seller.

Do as you would do with any other fresh challenge: slow it down and dig into your research before you make any moves. We’re here to help with these 11 real estate tips on selling homes straight from the pros.

1. Make sure you’re ready to let go.

Selling your house comes with a lot more emotional baggage than, say, putting your old headphones up for sale on Craigslist. You’re parting with a place called “home” that, by all odds, is where you spent a good chunk of time over the last 12.3 years. As much as this is a financial decision, it’s also a personal one.

“You’re so invested in the home, and for most people, their home is the single largest investment they make,” says top-selling Greenville, North Carolina, agent Homer Tyre. “They have had so many great or life-altering memories in that home that it’s like being in a long-term relationship.”

Before you put your house on the market, do the emotional work. Walk through your home and talk about old memories. Reflect on how the house has served its purpose for however long you lived there. Reminisce about how you loved living here with your spouse, children, and family members. Think about what life beyond this sale will be and whether you’re happy with that picture.

Deal with whatever anxiety or apprehension you have about letting go of it (feeling this way is 100% normal!) and decide whether you’re willing and ready to hear critiques about your home. If the thought of getting negative buyer feedback makes you cringe, or you aren’t prepared to negotiate this like a business deal, then you could be in for a rough experience.

Once you accept an offer, you’re under contract to go through with the sale. One seller changed his mind after signing the contract and then tried to sabotage the deal to scare off the buyer. Not an ideal situation. Do what you can to avoid seller’s remorse sooner rather than later.

2. Hire an agent who’s worthy of your business.

Estimates from the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO) indicate that over 3 million individuals have active real estate licenses in the US. As of May 2024, a report from the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) shows that more than 1.5 million of these agents are Realtors.

So the challenge for you is not to find an agent, but to find a great one. And because an agent who’s a perfect match for you may be different than the agent who helped your coworker, friend, or neighbor, you should set out to find an agent who is especially suited for your particular needs. Take care to select the right professional during this step, and it will make a world of difference in your home sale experience.

If the thought of where to start overwhelms you, HomeLight can connect you with three top local agents who 1) have proven experience in your exact neighborhood, price point, and property type, 2) sell homes faster and for more money than the average area agent (we calculate this using an agent’s objective performance history), and 3) come highly recommended by past clients.

You’re welcome!