The median home prices have reached $253,900. Homes are spending just 34 median days on the market. How? Well, the affordable cost of living, strong job market, and Ohio’s central location pull enough number of home buyers to the Buckeye State.
If you are wondering when’s the best time to sell a house in Ohio, you can literally start now! After all, selling in the Buckeye State now can be like a smooth cruise down the Ohio River.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Prepare your home for sale with enhanced curb appeal, neutral decor, tropical landscaping, and clean outdoor spaces.
- Decide how you want to sell, whether it’s with a local Ohio Flat Fee MLS service, a discount broker, or a full-service Realtor.
- Houzeo, Ohio’s #1 home selling website, can save you thousands in agent fees. Your home will also be on the MLS within 48 hours.
- Before you price your home in Ohio, check the current median home price, recent sales, and mortgage rates.
- Conduct showings to attract buyers. Also, review offers quickly and negotiate smartly.
- Finally, schedule utility transfers, pay your closing costs, and prepare to move out.
7 Steps to Selling a House in Ohio
Wondering what is the process of selling a house? Simply follow these steps to selling your home in Ohio:
Step 1: Prep Your Home for Sale
First impression is the key—especially in a state where charming brick homes, wraparound porches, and pretty front yards are common. So, focus on the curb appeal and make your home look more presentable.
Here are 3 tips to make homes for sale in Ohio stand out:
- Redo the Landscaping: Native plants like coneflowers and red maples can boost your home’s curb appeal. You can also plant blooming hydrangeas, daylilies, or local wildflowers.
- Repaint the House: Classic, inviting tones can make a long-lasting impression. Go for colors like colonial blue, brick red, or creamy white.
- Highlight Outdoor Spaces: Style your porch or backyard with cozy rocking chairs, potted plants, and string lights. Ohioans love outdoor spaces that can smoothly transition from summer cookout spaces to fall bonfire spots.
Step 2: Stage Your Home and Click Photos
A well-staged home can shine like the sun glinting off Lake Erie. It can attract buyers like fireflies to a summer night in the Midwest! While traditional home staging is the basic, you can try virtual home staging to make the process quicker.
Follow these tips to stage your home:
- Declutter and Clean the House: Clean homes appeal more to buyers. Clean the garage, sweep clean the porch and pressure-wash the driveway to achieve this look.
- Showcase Practical Features: Buyers in Ohio prioritize features that stand up to the seasons. So, bring your home’s insulated windows, updated furnace and energy-efficient appliances into the limelight.
- Focus on Spacious Living Spaces: Home buyers in Ohio love homes with natural light and airflow. Emphasize your home’s big windows, open floor plans or bright breezy interiors while staging.
- Include a Home Tour Video: Home listings with videos get 403% more views than those without it. So, make a video that shows your property in the best light!
Step 3: Decide How to List Your House
Are you looking for the best way to sell a house? Here are 4 options most sellers go for:
- Full-Service Realtors – Up to 6%: These Realtors provide various services from list to close, but charge a hefty 5% to 6% real estate commission in Ohio.
- Flat Fee MLS – $249: If you want to skip hefty commissions, you can list on MLS in Ohio for a flat fee. With Houzeo, your home can be on the MLS for just $249. If you choose a good listing service, you can easily get top price for your house in Ohio.
- Discount Real Estate Brokers: These brokers charge a lower fee than traditional agents, and offer services like contract reviews and negotiation assistance. Discount real estate brokers in Ohio charge between 0.5% and 2% as commission.
- Cash Buyers: They help you sell your home fast for cash. With cash buyers, you can get competitive all-cash offers and close on your terms.
- For Sale By Owner: You can sell your home FSBO without hiring an agent. This gives you full control over the process and helps you save thousands on agent commissions.
Step 4: Price Your Home Competitively
In Feb 2025, 22.3% of homes in Ohio sold with price drops. Inaccurate pricing forces properties to stay longer on the market. It’s important to understand market trends to know how to price your home.
Here’s how to avoid overpricing your property:
- Check the Housing Market Trends: Price your home too high and it can stay on the market for longer than the last snowbank in Cleveland. Properly study the Ohio housing market and then set a competitive listing price.
- Use Online Home Valuation Tools: Use a free home value estimator to calculate your home’s Fair Market Value (FMV). Price your home slightly above your its FMV to attract buyers and have a profitable home sale.
- Get a CMA: Your agent conducts your home’s Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). It helps understand your home’s worth based on its features and location. A CMA helps you easily quote the right price for your home.
Step 5: Handle Showings and Manage Offers
Once your listing is active, buyers searching for Ohio houses for sale will submit showing requests. Here’s what you can do:
- Actively Manage Showings: Promptly accept and confirm any showing requests. Remember to create a good impression. Don’t cancel scheduled showings at the last moment, communicate clearly about clashes, and be a pleasant host.
- Host an Open House: Even the best home can get overlooked like a hidden gem in the Ohio Amish Country. Consult your agent and announce an open house to attract buyers.
- Review and Counter Offers: If you only get one offer, you might have to reduce your asking price. But if many buyers show interest in your home, you can either negotiate or choose the highest and best offer.
➡️Remember: Selling your home in Ohio is like navigating the twists of Ohio river—your steady, strategic moves make all the difference!
Step 6: Ensure Your Home Is Inspection-Ready
A home appraisal is the fair valuation of a house. Buyers conduct your home’s appraisal to ensure that they aren’t paying more than your home’s FMV.
Your home’s condition largely affects your home’s appraisal and closing price. Buyers also conduct a home inspection to examine the structural and functional aspects of your home.
👉 All Set to Sell Your Home? List on the MLS Now!
Step 7: Prepare for Closing Day
Closing day can be emotional, but don’t overlook the formalities. Just follow these final steps and you’ll be good to go:
- Gather All Documents: Before you sell a house in Ohio, keep the paperwork for selling a house by owner ready. This includes the affidavit of title, deed, purchase agreement, tax records, settlement statement, 1099-S tax form, etc.
- Prepare to Move Out: Pack up your belongings and get ready to bid your home goodbye.
- Transfer Ownership: You have to sign the escrow paperwork, title deed, and other documents to transfer ownership to the buyer. Then, the title company or escrow transfers their funds to you. The buyer’s name is then registered in the public record.
- Closing Costs: The cost of selling a home in Ohio includes taxes on selling a house, like Transfer Tax and Property Tax. Closing costs for sellers in Ohio also consist of HOA, real estate attorney, and home warranty fees.
How to Sell Your Home in Ohio?
| City | Sell a Home in Ohio Near You |
| Cincinnati | Sell My House in Cincinnati |
Quick Summary 📝
Whether you are in downtown Columbus or out in the farmlands of western Ohio, you just need to follow the right home selling process. To start, prepare your home for sale, and click photos. Then, decide how to list your home.
Remember to price your home after checking the local trends. When your listing is live, you start getting showing requests. The buyer will conduct your home’s inspection before you can finally close the deal.
» Houzeo Reviews: Read what people have to say about Houzeo—Ohio’s best home selling website.
