2021 Sellers Guide: Best Tips on How to Sell a House in Puerto Vallarta. Ready to sell? Now you must be wondering how to sell a house. The process will be fully guided by your real estate agent and in a very basic way consists of giving your property exclusively to an agency that belongs to AMPI, they will show your property to potential buyers until offers are received, and once your offer is accepted the property will be transferred to the buyer and simultaneously you will receive the funds from the transaction. Table of Content Pricing Taxes and Legal Marketing Photography Sales Comissions Security and Technology Hiring a Real Estate Agent Conclusion Your listing agent will explain more details about the process that will be mostly related to your property and the real estate agent who will be represented along the process. Even if you have bought many properties or are even a real estate agent, there are some particular aspects beyond the conventional process that you should know and that will be key for a successful transaction and experience: HOME’S SALE PRICE Be realistic when setting the price. Your real estate agent, your potential buyer’s agent, and even buyers have direct access to price information in the local market. Your agent can help you figure out what your home is worth, an unreasonably overpriced property will simply delay the closing date. An experienced agent will discuss the matter head-on with you. An inexperienced agent would probably allow you to list your property at a premium as long as he has the opportunity to sell it. Some agents do not face the issue of price and use the strategy of waiting for you to confirm, due to the lack of requests of showings or the receipt of lower-priced offers that the unit is being advertised with overpricing, and that is when they will address the issue of overpricing. On the other hand, If there is a shortage of properties like yours in the market or the unit has real premium features not found in other properties, to set a higher ticket is totally reasonable. LEGAL / TAXES Before selling your house, it is very important that you make sure that your property has all the legal aspects in order and that also if there is anything that is not in order, prepare to regularize it ahead and not leave any legal aspect for the end. In Mexico some legal aspects can take a considerable time, therefore it is recommended to plan ahead properly. The taxes that you must pay to sell your home are based on the profit that you will obtain from the sale, however, this calculation is based on the national currency, the Mexican peso. It is not a straightforward specific percentage, because involves appreciation with time. Your profit in pesos will be the calculation basis for your taxes. An experienced agent will present you with an estimated tax calculation to pay before signing an agreement. This calculation will be performed by an experienced tax attorney, who will most likely be part of this agent’s team. In addition, the agent will ask the tax attorney to plan a strategy for reducing your taxes in a timely manner which will help you to have the best possible result. The agent’s commission for the real estate sale is 100% deductible from your capital gains, before tax calculation. REAL ESTATE MARKETING Marketing nowadays is a key point when selling your home. To have maximum exposure in promoting your property, it is essential that you sign an exclusive listing agreement with an agency that belongs to AMPI (Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals). This will allow you to advertise the property on the Multi Listing System, commonly called MLS. Agents access this platform to search for properties for their buyer clients, and the general public can access this platform also. A percentage greater than 50% of sales in the Bay is made with the participation of 2 real estate agents or agencies, therefore it is essential that your property is advertised online in MLS. Additionally, an experienced local agent or agency will take specific initiatives to market your home according to its profile and location. There are areas and types of favorite properties for some buyer profiles according to their family configuration, life stage, and others. An experienced agency will focus all promotional efforts on those buyer segments compatible with your home. Also, experienced agencies have correctly segmented buyer databases for specific properties allowing your property to have a smarter exposure by promoting directly to those potential buyers. The presence and activity of internet marketing and social media in all its flavors will be a key differentiator to accelerate the sale of your home and to obtain qualified buyers who will pay the price defined above. PHOTOS – STAGING “A picture is worth more than 1000 words.” We have heard this phrase or other similar ones many times and the sale of your property does not escape from it. Quality photos and recent tools like virtual tours will not only help you while listing your home but also will allow potential buyers to learn about all facets of their potential new home. An experienced agent will make the key recommendations for the photography session, from staging to situations that must be corrected and strengths that must be enhanced in the photos of the house. Your agent can also give you advice on staging and quick fixes and repairs that you will need to do in order to sell your home for top money, like putting a fresh coat of paint on the walls, or patching holes and cracks in the walls and ceilings, keep in mind that the first impression is vital in the process of selling a house. SALES COMMISSION The standard real estate commission set by AMPI on the Bay for the agency’s services is 8%, it is fully deductible from your capital gains. At this point in the process, you should have already formed an idea of the agent you have interviewed and surely have a perception of their value as a professional. Remember that professionals do not need to discount their services to attract clients. An agent who is unable to defend his own professional value will hardly be able to defend the value of your property. SECURITY & TECHNOLOGY Last but not least. We all know cyber crime is focused on identity theft. Ask the agency that would support your transaction how they handle your sensitive data and information. Ask them what technology they are using to protect you and the process. Also, look for time-saving services and other technologies that will save you valuable time and bring you a pleasant overall experience. YOUR REAL ESTATE AGENT, YOUR AGENCY A sale by owner sounds tempting but remember that it will turn to be a full-time job, an agent can help you determine the price of your home, negotiate with the buyer’s agent, basically in the whole home selling process. When selling a home, the knowledge of your agent in the local real estate market, the real estate industry, and the agency team will be key to your peace of mind and will guarantee a safe, stress-free turnkey process and the best possible results. Everything can go well and be very simple, but the important thing is that you have the backing of a solid group if something goes wrong. It is your insurance policy, and it is better to have it and that everything goes well than not having it and something goes wrong. Make the right choice as it will save you time and possibly money, it is an investment. CONCLUSIONS ON HOW TO SELL A HOUSE IN PUERTO VALLARTA Selling your home is a hard process that involves a lot of energy and work but there are some ways to make it easier. If you want to sell your home in Puerto Vallarta or in Riviera Nayarita or if you’re in the process of selling it, please contact one of our real estate agents. In MexLife Realtors we have expert agents who have a deep knowledge of the real estate market in the bay area and our aim is to get you the best deal for your home at record time.