Thinking of Selling your Home? Here are some tips and tricks.

 

The Internet is king:

Research shows that at least 80% of homebuyers are beginning their search on-line.  A great on line presence will drive buyers to your door.  Invest in professional photos and property websites.  Create a YouTube video using these pictures.  It's all about exposure and the Internet is the way people begin their search, so make it impressive. It will help you get the best price and the quickest sale. We have photographers and websit builders on our team to make this proccess seamless and easy.  

 

The first impression is the only impression:

You never have a second chance to make a first impression. It’s important to make people feel warm, welcome and safe as they approach the house. Spruce up your home’s exterior with inexpensive shrubs and brightly colored flowers. You can typically get a 100-percent return on the money you put into your home’s curb appeal. Entryways are also important. You use it as a utility space for your coat and keys. But, when you’re selling, make it welcoming by putting in a small bench, a vase of fresh-cut flowers or even some cookies. We can advise you on curb appeal and staging to make your property look it's best.

 

Always be ready to show:

Your house needs to be "show-ready" at all times – you never know when your buyer is going to walk through the door. You have to be available whenever they want to come see the place and it has to be in tip-top shape. Don’t leave dishes in the sink, keep the dishwasher cleaned out, the bathrooms sparkling and make sure there are no dust bunnies in the corners. It’s a little inconvenient, but it will get your house sold.

 

The kitchen comes first:

You’re not actually selling your house, you’re selling your kitchen – that’s how important it is. The benefits of remodeling your kitchen are endless, and the best part of it is that you’ll probably get 85% of your money back. It may be a few thousand dollars to replace countertops where a buyer may knock $10,000 off the asking price if your kitchen looks dated. The fastest, most inexpensive kitchen updates include painting and new cabinet hardware. Use a neutral-color paint so you can present buyers with a blank canvas where they can start envisioning their own style. If you have a little money to spend, buy one fancy stainless steel appliance. Why one? Because when people see one high-end appliance they think all the rest are expensive too and it updates the kitchen.

 

Bathrooms are just as important:

Clean up the bathroom.  It should be spotless.  Invest in some fresh towels and shower curtains.  Scrub the grout and you may want to change out the faucets and cabinet hardware for a fresh updated look.  Kill the mold and apply a fresh coat of paint to cover water stains.  A dirty dated bath will cost you money and days on the market. Word of the day "Spa" like...

 

Take the home out of your house:

One of the most important things to do when selling your house is to de-personalize it. The more personal stuff in your house, the less potential buyers can imagine themselves living there. Get rid of a third of your stuff – put it in storage. This includes family photos, memorabilia collections and personal keepsakes. Consider hiring a home stager to maximize the full potential of your home. Staging simply means arranging your furniture to best showcase the floor plan and maximize the use of space. One of the hardest things to do is separate yourself from your home, but it's time to think of it as a product to be marketed.  Is that vivid color you love on your walls really worth letting the house sit on the market, or accepting a lower sales price because you didn't appeal to the widest buyer pool?

 

Do simple updates:

Quick fixes and updates before selling always pay off and help you get top dollar. Get a new fresh coat of paint on the walls. Clean the curtains or go buy some inexpensive new ones. Replace door handles, cabinet hardware, make sure closet doors are on track, fix leaky faucets and clean the grout. Replace outdated lighting fixtures with inexpensive contemporary ones.  You don't want your house to be remembered for the wrong reasons.

 

Conceal the critters:

You might think a cuddly dog would warm the hearts of potential buyers, but you’d be wrong. Not everybody is a dog- or cat-lover. Buyers don’t want to walk in your home and see a bowl full of dog food, smell the kitty litter box or have tufts of pet hair stuck to their clothes. It will give buyers the impression that your house is not clean. If you’re planning an open house, send the critters to a pet hotel for the day.

 

Light it up:

Maximize the light in your home. After location, good light is the one thing that every buyer cites that they want in a home. Take down the drapes, clean the windows, change the lampshades, increase the wattage of your light bulbs and cut the bushes outside to let in sunshine. Do what you have to do to make your house bright and cheery – it will make it more sellable

 

Half-empty closets and wide-open spaces

Storage is something every buyer is looking for and can never have enough of. Take half the stuff out of your closets then neatly organize what’s left in there. Buyers will snoop, so be sure to keep all your closets and cabinets clean and tidy. Remove excess furniture and decor as well. You want your home to appear to have ample space and storage.  Overstuffed rooms and overflowing closets leave a potential buyer with the impression that your home is too small and bursting at the seams.  Who wants to buy that?

 

Thinking of listing?  

 

Set up an appointment and we'll bring you a comparative market analysis of the value of your home

 

Plus we'll provide a complimentary 15-minute consultation on how to style your home before you list it