Homes in Maine are spending just around 32 on the market. Moreover, the median home sale price has climbed to $415,900. Wonder how? It’s simple一with the growing popularity of remote-friendly towns and affordable cost of living, the state is drawing in buyers fast!
Now that summer is just around the corner, sellers hold the keys to a hot market. In fact, this could be the best time to sell your house in Maine一like a scenic drive along the coastal Route.
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 Maine Flat Fee MLS service, a discount broker, or a full-service Realtor.
- Houzeo, Maine’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 Maine, 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 Easy Steps to Selling a House in Maine
Home sales in Maine are not as complicated as you might think. You just need to follow these simple steps to sell your home fast:
Step 1: Prep Your Home for Sale
First impressions matter, especially in Maine’s competitive market with the timeless beauty of historic homes and coastal cottages. So, focus on your home’s curb appeal to make your home look more presentable. Here are 3 tips to make homes for sale in Maine stand out:
- Redo the Landscaping: Redesign your front and back yards to give them a lush, vibrant appearance. Plant flowers like lupines, eastern hemlocks, and black-eyed Susans to create a welcoming space.
- Repaint the House: A new layer of paint can work magic. Use colors like desert tan, rusty red, or cactus green to make your house look warm and new.
- Highlight Outdoor Spaces: Homebuyers in Maine are generally drawn to outdoor living. So, whether your outdoor space is a patio, front porch, or backyard, ensure that it is inviting.
Step 2: Stage Your Home and Click Photos
A well-staged home sells faster than a blueberry lemonade on a warm afternoon in Portland, Maine. While traditional home staging is always an option, you can also try virtual home staging. Here’s how you can make your house shine:
- Declutter and Clean the House: Empty the garage, clean the roof, and pressure-wash the driveway to have a clean and appealing look.
- Showcase Practical Features: Maine buyers often look for energy efficiency and weather-ready upgrades, such as storm doors, energy-efficient appliances, and proper insulation for cold winters. Highlight these in your listing, if any.
- Focus on Spacious Living Spaces: Buyers generally prefer large windows, natural lighting, and airy rooms. Emphasize these features in your staging and consider the usage of bright colors to make it look spacious.
- 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
If you’re wondering how to list your house on the MLS in Maine, you have multiple options! 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 Miane.
- Flat Fee MLS – $249: If you want to sell your home yourself, you can list on the MLS in Maine for a flat fee. With Houzeo, your home can be on the MLS for just $249.
- 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 Maine 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
When a property is priced inaccurately, it tends to stay on the market longer than it should. For instance, in Feb 2025, 14.5% of homes in Maine sold only after price drops. But worry not! Here’s how to price your home just right:
- Check the Local Market: Study the Maine Housing Market in cities like Portland, Bangor, and Augusta to set a competitive price. Price your home too high, and it might sit longer than a fog bank over Penobscot Bay.
- Use Online Home Valuation Tools: Use a free home value estimator to calculate your home’s Fair Market Value (FMV).
- Get a CMA: A Comparative Market Analysis helps you understand your home’s worth based on its features and location. This can help you price your home right.
Step 5: Handle Showings and Review Offers
Once your listing is active, buyers searching for Maine houses for sale will submit showing requests. Here’s what to do next:
- Actively Manage Showings: Promptly accept and confirm any showing requests to create a good impression. Don’t cancel scheduled showings at the last moment, and communicate clearly about time clashes.
- Host an Open House: Even a beautifully staged home can go unnoticed, like a pine cone in a forest of evergreens. So, organize an open house to attract buyers actively.
- Review and Counter Offers: If you only get one offer, you might have to reduce your asking price. But if you’ve got multiple offers, it’s time to negotiate and find the best one.
Step 6: Ensure Your Home Is Inspection-Ready
Usually, buyers will schedule a home inspection to check for any issues, while the lender orders an home appraisal to figure out the market value. So, fix up any small repairs ahead of time—no one likes nasty surprises!
Being ready for both keeps things smooth and your home’s value strong. It’s all about making sure the buyer feels good and the lender feels confident, so your sale stays on track.
👉 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 home in Maine, 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.
- Transfer Ownership: Sign the escrow and title documents to transfer ownership. Once done, you’ll receive the funds, and the buyer’s name will get registered in the public record.
- Closing Costs: The cost of selling a house in Maine includes taxes on selling a house, like Transfer Tax and Property Tax. It also consists of HOA, real estate attorney, and home warranty fees.
Quick Summary📝
Whether you’re in the heart of Portland or near the scenic Maine coast, having the right strategy is key to selling a house in the Pine Tree State. Start by preparing your home for sale, and taking high-quality 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.
Don’t forget—selling your home in Maine can be exciting, rewarding, and well worth the planning, just like a peaceful drive along the Acadia All-American Road during peak fall foliage!
» Houzeo Reviews: Read what people say about Houzeo—Maine’s best home selling website.
