Getting ready to sell your house in Indiana? Our in-depth guide breaks the entire process down into 8 simple steps. Learn how to find a great agent, price your home, negotiate with buyers, breeze through closing, and more!
Now is a good time to be selling a house in Indiana! According to Zillow Research, property values in the Hoosier State rose 5.12% in 2019, and are projected to rise a further 3.39% over the next year.
Of course, even the best Indiana properties will struggle to sell if you don’t price the home properly, do a poor job of marketing it, or don’t know how to handle the negotiations.
Read on to learn the eight steps to successfully selling your home in Indiana!
» MORE: Get a free, instant home value estimate now!
JUMP TO SECTION
- 1. Finding a Indiana realtor
- 2. Deciding when to sell
- 3. Pricing your home
- 4. Preparing, marketing, and showing your home
- 5. Fielding offers and negotiations
- 6. Appraisal and inspections
- 7. Paperwork and required Indiana disclosures
- 8. The closing process
- Next steps: Sell your Indiana home and save thousands
1. Finding a Indiana realtor
Selling a home isn’t easy. It’s a high-stakes, complex transaction and requires a considerable amount of time and expertise to get a good outcome. If you’re looking to sell your Indiana home for the best price — and minimize stress along the way — you need to find a top-rated real estate agent in your area.
The best Indiana listing agents know exactly what local buyers want and how to reach them. They’ll offer expert advice, guidance, and support every step of the way, from the initial listing all the way through closing.
In fact, sellers who work with real estate agents net 33% more, on average, than those who list on their own. For a $152,213 home — the median home value in Indiana, according to Zillow — that’s a premium of $50,230. In other words, hiring an agent is well worth the investment.
2. Deciding when to sell
Deciding when to put your home on the market can have a significant impact on its selling price. While you may not have much of a choice on timing if you’re moving for a new job, if you have the opportunity to be flexible and time the market, you could sell your home for more.
Best time to sell a house across the U.S.
Source: 2019 Redfin Data Center
Best time to sell a house in Indiana
| Best Month to Sell for Speed in Indiana | June | 10 days on market | 18 days faster than average |
| Best Month to Sell for Price in Indiana | June | $194,000 median sale price | 7% more than average |
Sales prices can fluctuate based on hard-to-predict factors like job growth, economic outlook, and local tax or legislative changes. Generally, though, June is the best time to sell your home in Indiana. The average time on the market when listed during the month of June is just 10 days and it has the highest median sale price of $194,000.
Learn More: The Best Time to Sell a Home in Indiana
3. Pricing your home
Almost as important as choosing the right real estate agent is pricing your home. Getting the highest priced offers doesn’t necessarily mean listing it for a higher price. It’s important to set the price competitively based on current market conditions to generate interest and attractive offers, especially since there is more to an offer than just the selling price.
Your local agent can complete a comparative market analysis that compares your home to other similar properties in the area and their selling price. Clever Partner Agents provide this service to you free-of-charge.
But if you're earlier in the process and just want a general idea of what your house is worth, a free online home value estimator is a great place to start. Enter your address below to see your estimated sale price, as well as useful local real estate market trends. Find out how much your house is worth now!
Discover the true value of your home with our Home Value Estimator!
4. Preparing, marketing, and showing your home
Small updates can make a world of difference and you may see a boost to your final sales price. Simple fixes like a fresh coat of paint can really brighten up your space. For Indiana homes, stick with green, beige, and light gray for a comfy, cozy feel.
Walk through your home with your agent and find dark locations that may benefit from adding a floor lamp or using a brighter bulb. Clear cobwebs and debris from porches, freshen up landscaping, clean windows, and declutter the space. The key is to help people imagine themselves making your house their home.
Hire a photographer and work with your real estate to make sure these photos and the details of your listing are perfect to attract as many buyers as possible. In addition to listing on your local MLS, post on social media, real estate websites, and other realtor website for the greatest visibility.
Now it’s time to let your home shine. There are several ways to show your home to potential buyers. One of the most common is an open house, where you set a date and time for people to walk through your home. However, you’ll get more showings if you’re flexible with private showings and allow your real estate agent to put a lockbox on your door. A lockbox gives other agents access at any (reasonable) time for clients to take a look so they aren’t subject to working around your schedule.
Learn More: The Best Paint Colors For Selling A House
5. Fielding offers and negotiations
After showings, come the offers — hopefully, lots of them — and the beginning of negotiations. Offers may come in at, above, or below your asking prices and contain different contingencies and loan types. After you’ve reviewed all the offers, you can counter with a higher price or different terms. Each offer will lay out the amount of time you have to respond and accept the offer before it becomes void. You can respond by negotiating closing costs, deadlines for inspections, closing dates, and purchase price.
Learn More: Real Estate Counter Offer Etiquette
6. Appraisal and inspections
After you and a buyer have reached consensus, the buyer will likely order a home inspection and appraisal. Both are often required by the lender. An appraisal reaffirms the value of the home to the bank and a home inspection tells the buyer of any defects that may need to be fixed.
Depending on the results of the appraisal and home inspection, more negotiation may occur for repairs, adjustments to price, or timeframe for closing.
Learn More: Can the Seller Back Out of Contract Before Closing?
7. Paperwork and required Indiana disclosures
A seller’s disclosure form tells a potential buyer of any known issues with the condition of the home. Indiana’s Residential Real Estate Disclosure Law, Ind. Code §32-21-5-2 requires sellers to disclose issues with any of the following:
- Appliances;
- Electrical System;
- Water & Sewer System;
- Heating and Cooling System;
- Roof;
- Hazardous conditions;
- Other defects, like foundation cracks, structural issues, pest problems, or zoning issues
You are only legally required to tell a buyer about problems you know actually exist, meaning you don’t need to hire a property inspector to find new issues you never knew about.
A lot of additional paperwork goes into selling a house. It's good to be familiar with all the documents you might need to close on your home, but always consult your agent or attorney before signing or filing paperwork. A licensed professional should walk you through all the paperwork and ensure you have everything you need for your situation.
Forms and Documents for Selling a House in Indiana
Required for All Real Estate Sales in Indiana
- 2 Forms of ID
- Copy of Purchase Agreement and Any Addendums
- Closing Statement
- Signed Deed
- Bill of Sale
- Affidavit of Title
Possible Additional Documents
- Loan Payoff Information
- HOA Forms and Guidelines
- Survey Results or Survey Affidavits
- Home Inspection Results
- Proof of Repairs or Renovations
- Home Warranty Information
- Copies of Relevant Wills, Trusts, or Power of Attorney Letters
- Relevant Affidavits (Name Affidavits, Non-Foreign Affidavit Under IRC 1445, etc.)
- Closing Disclosure (for certain seller concessions)
- Correction Statement and Agreement
Indiana Disclosure Forms
- Seller’s Residential Real Estate Sales Disclosure (Form 46234)
- Flood Zone Statement
- Lead-Based Paint Disclosure
Learn More: Disclosure Requirements in Indiana
8. The closing process
After both you and the buyer have fulfilled the terms of the purchase agreement, you’ll sign all final documents and exchange funds. The buyer will pay you the purchase price and you will give them a clear title and any transfer documents. You’ll then pay off any existing mortgage and pay your agent his or her commissions.
You do not need to be physically present at closing in Indiana as long as all costs are paid and documents are signed. The buyers will likely sign their final documents at the office of the title company and receive their keys. Final paperwork will then be recorded at the local government office and the sale is officially final.
Learn More: How Much Are Closing Costs for the Seller?
Next steps: Sell your Indiana home and save thousands
Whether you’re looking to list your Indiana home immediately or 6-12 months from now, it’s never too early to start looking for an agent, getting advice, and making a plan.
Clever is here to help guide you through the home selling process — and save money along the way!
Want to find a top local agent without overpaying on realtor fees? Clever negotiates 1.5% listing fees with top-rated realtors from trusted brokerages like Keller Williams, RE/MAX, and Berkshire Hathaway.
Get guaranteed full service for a fraction of the 3% rate agents typically charge. Schedule a free, no obligation consultation with a top local agent today!
Top ways to sell your home in Indiana
- Discount real estate agents in Indiana
- We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Indiana
- Flat-fee MLS companies in Indiana
