What Black Women Selling Their Home Need To Know

Navigating the selling process can be difficult, especially when it feels like the odds of getting a good deal are stacked against you as a Black woman in America.

Unfair and often predatory lending practices, discrimination by realtors, skepticism by lenders even when a Black applicant has the credit can make both the buying and selling procedure fraught with peril.

Here are ways to protect yourself and your interests when selling a home.

Have a Hard Number in Mind

Civil rights leaders since the beginning of the struggle have made variants on the same claim that knowledge is power. Don’t let crafty buyers or unscrupulous realtors take advantage of you by low-balling your home.

Take the time to do your own research. Also, get an appraisal from multiple sources. If you think the first one is too low for whatever reason, don’t be afraid to challenge it by going to another appraiser.

Have a hard number in mind, and be ready to stick to it during the negotiation process.

Set the Stage

According to The Staging Team, home staging is about emotion. You can set your home up to evoke different feelings, and is more than just de-cluttering and cleaning.

Think about what feeling your home will evoke, and if that will make people want to buy the home. Some tips for making your home more attractive to potential buyers include using neutral colors for decoration, make sure all the minor things like leaky taps and fractured tiles are taken care of, and reduce the amount of furniture to “open up” the home.

Be confident in pursuing all the means at your disposal to put yourself in command at the bargaining table and get the most money possible.

Prioritize the Black Community in the Process

Selling your home doesn’t have to mean compromising your values – you can still work Black empowerment into the process. Support for Black home ownership is needed now more than ever.

According to The National Association of Real Estate Brokers, rates of African-American home ownership recently fell to an all-time low, thanks to a stagnant economy and unequal lending practices.

Be part of the solution by working with a Black realtor who serves primarily Black clients. Resist the increasing trend of gentrification in our communities, the process of (usually White) developers purchasing property in African American neighborhoods, renovating it, and forcing the black residents out to make room for high-rise condos or upper-middle-class mixed-use recreational areas.

---

Fortunately, organizations that specifically advocate for Black homeownership exist throughout the country.

If you are trying to sell your home, take advantage of these organizations and follow the tips above for your best chance at success.

If you’re looking to buy a home as well, check out these tips if you’re doing it for the first time!