Selling your home can be an emotional time filled with both excitement and trepidation. It can also be a bit frustrating, especially when your neighbor’s property sells in a week for over the asking price, and you wonder what home selling secrets they might know that you don’t. Your house has been on the market for months, and it’s natural to seek ways to improve your selling strategy.
Fortunately, there are some savvy things you can do to help speed up the sale process and get the best possible price for your home.
1. Price it right
While it may be tempting to price your home high in order to get the most money out of it, that can backfire. If you overprice it, it could sit on the market for a long, and buyers might be skeptical of your property. And if the appraisal comes in lower than expected, you could find yourself with a home that isn’t worth what you paid for it.
The best way to determine your home’s fair market value is to work with a knowledgeable real estate agent. They will have access to information on recently sold properties and will know what similar homes in your neighborhood are selling for. They can also help you to understand how certain upgrades or improvements impact a home’s value. For example, adding a bathroom can boost a home’s value, but installing a second floor is not always the best return on investment.
In addition, a good agent can help you to determine the right timing of your listing. For example, if you’re in a seller’s market, you might be able to sell your home for more than it would be worth during a slower season.
If you’re on a tight timeline, make sure that your home is ready for viewing. That means depersonalizing it by removing family photos, moving out the clutter, and even painting over a brightly colored mural. You should also keep your curb appeal in mind. Repainting the front door, sprucing up landscaping, and making sure that all the lights are on can make your home more appealing to potential buyers. This is especially true if your home’s location is attractive. A secluded cul-de-sac, proximity to restaurants and other attractions, and safe streets are all things that can make your home more desirable.
2. Make it move-in ready
Home buyers have a lot of questions during the home-buying process. The more your home is move-in ready, the easier it will be for them to see themselves living there and ultimately make an offer. Luckily, there are several easy home renovation ways to get your home ready for sale.
Start with a thorough cleaning. Wash all the windows, clean carpets, and dust everything from top to bottom. This will give your home a bright and fresh appearance, making it more appealing. Next, declutter and remove all personal items from the home. This includes family photos, memorabilia collections, and other personal keepsakes. This will allow potential buyers to visualize their belongings in the space and help your home feel more spacious.
Finally, give your home a fresh coat of paint. This will make it look new and can help it stand out from the competition. If repainting your entire house isn’t feasible, you can also do things like replace door handles and address numbers for a more attractive look. Getting your home ready for sale isn’t easy, especially when you’re still living there. But it’s important to take the time and effort to prepare your home as much as possible so you can sell it quickly and for a good price.
By following these simple tips, you can set your home apart from the competition and make the home selling process as smooth as possible. Just remember to avoid listing your home in October and December, as these are the slowest months of the year for home sales. And don’t forget to hire a professional real estate agent to help you get the job done right!
3. Make it stand out from the crowd
When prospective buyers walk through your home, they’ll have to see it alongside many other homes. The good news is that a few simple steps can set yours apart from the crowd. Curb appeal is a major factor in getting your house to stand out. In fact, 94 percent of realtors recommend that sellers focus on curb appeal before listing their homes. The reason is simple: People form first impressions in just a tenth of a second.
A well-manicured lawn, a fresh coat of paint, and a few other minor tweaks can make your home look great. If you don’t have the budget to repaint your entire home, consider slapping on a new door color or swapping out address numbers and handles for something more attractive.
Another way to stand out is to highlight a unique feature of your home. For example, if you have a lot of closet space, be sure to mention it in your listing. This is a great way to help buyers envision how much storage they’ll have in their new home.
Finally, be sure to declutter your home before putting it on the market. That means removing family photos, that porcelain doll collection, and other personal touches that could turn off potential buyers. Selling a home isn’t always easy, but with the right preparation, you can increase your chances of making a quick and profitable sale. Follow these savvy tips, and you’ll be on your way to a successful home sale in no time!
4. Make it easy for buyers to see themselves in it
Once you put your house on the market, you need to make it as easy as possible for buyers to see themselves living there. This means keeping it clean and free of personal touches like photos, fridge magnets, and kids’ artwork. It also means getting rid of clutter, putting away toys, and scrubbing surfaces until they shine. Consider boarding pets with a friend or relative during showings and open houses if you have pets. And don’t forget about the curb appeal — a messy, overgrown lawn or a pile of stacked boxes in the driveway won’t help you sell your home.
It’s easy to overlook the little things that need fixing, improving, or plumbing, such as a leaky faucet, a crack in the wall, or a dead plant on the porch. However, buyers notice them, and they can make your home seem less desirable if you fail to address them. Another common mistake that sellers make is waiting too long to fix things before putting their home on the market. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that a buyer will be put off by the work needed and offer lower than your asking price.
One of the most difficult parts of selling a home is the lengthy process involved in finding a new place to live and navigating the legal and financial hurdles. This is especially true if you are part of a chain, which can lead to delays and even derail the deal altogether. Taking steps to make your home more appealing to buyers can help speed up the process and reduce the stress that comes with it. For example, you can create a sense of urgency and attract more offers by staging your home for sale.
5. Make it easy for buyers to see themselves living in it
Removing personal items that may deter buyers is a good idea if you are a home seller. This means removing family photos, divisive religious or political items, and collections. It also means putting away your kids’ art, toys, and other clutter that marks the house as yours. You want buyers to imagine the house as their own, and this is difficult if they are reminded that it is someone else’s home.
In addition, you should make your home as open and accessible as possible for showings. This means having enough room for potential buyers to move around and see all aspects of the home, including closet space, storage areas, bathrooms, and kitchens. Keeping the house clean and neat is also a good idea, as it will give a better impression of your property.
Maximizing the amount of light in your home is another important factor. If the home is dimly lit, it will be less appealing to potential buyers. This can be done by taking down drapes, cleaning windows, changing lampshades, and increasing wattage on bulbs. You can also cut bushes, trim trees, and clear out cobwebs to allow for more natural light.
You should also be willing to show your home at any time. Most people are on a tight schedule when looking for a new home, and requiring 24 hours notice will likely put them off. Embracing these home selling secrets and being available at convenient times will increase the number of people who are able to see your property, which can lead to faster sales and a higher price.
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