If you’re ready to sell, here are a few tips to get your home sold on time and on budget.
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Choose an agent
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Price it right
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Prepare your home
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Neutralize
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Showing
1 – Choosing Your Agent
When preparing to sell your home, one of the best things you can do for your property is to hire an experienced agent who is knowledgeable in your area. They will be able to give you solid direction and advice on how to put your home’s best foot forward, in addition to being a voice of reason during negotiations. Look for an agent with lots of recent experience and a team supporting them..
2 – Pricing Your Home
Another major factor in the successful and timely sale of your home is pricing it right. Homes get 3.4 times the amount of online views the day they list than the day they do a price drop (according to Redfin) so it’s crucial to get it right the first time. Once again, this is something your agent will be able to determine for you, based on comparable homes in your area that have sold recently. Pricing a little high compared to what has sold recently in your area is just fine, but pricing too high can mean sitting on the market and eventually getting less money than you otherwise would have.
3 – Preparing Your Home
This piece of the puzzle will alleviate a huge amount of stress during the selling process. Walk around your home and take note of worn, run down, or particularly cluttered/messy areas and tend to them. It’s always a good idea to ask a trusted friend or family member to do a thorough walkthrough of your home and give you honest feeback on what you’re doing well and what could use improvement. Addressing these issues BEFORE you list your home will not only improve the marketability, but statistically, homes that are clean and orderly sell for more. Consider having an inspector come through your home before you list. It costs a few bucks up front, but can save you time, money, and headache in the long run – your agent can help with this as well.
4 – Neutralizing Your Home
This may be difficult, but try to take some of “you” out of the home. Simplify the family photos, collections, or other items that may distract. If you have bold or primary colors in your home, you may want to paint them over with a soft greige. Remove christmas cards and drawings from the refrigerator and ensure your home is generally clutter free. The process of neutralizing your home allows potential buyers to begin picturing themselves in your home. You don’t need to take everything down, just simplify by looking room-by-room for things that may distract a buyer.
5 – Showing Your home
When preparing for a showing, pay attention to light, space, and scent. Make sure the blinds are open and the lights are on (replace any burnt out bulbs). Flood the home with as much light as possible! Remove excess furniture and pack up anything you don’t need access to during the selling process. Make sure you don’t have big, bulky furniture closing off spaces or making it difficult to get around. This is distracting for buyers and makes your home appear smaller. Most importantly, rid your home of any unpleasant stains + odors (smoke, pet messes, etc). Have the carpets professionally cleaned and consider having a cleaning service come through and do a thorough deep clean. Avoid preparing strong smelling foods the day of a showing, as those smells can linger and turn off potential buyers. Move the litter box to a discrete location (such as a garage or outdoor storage building), and stow away ashtrays. Most buyers will immediately cross your home off of their list if they suspect pet damage or smoking, so addressing these issues BEFORE you list can save you big time and money. Lastly, be flexible. The selling process can get a little crazy, and though ideally you would have a few hours notice before a showing, that’s not always the case. Be prepared to vacate your home at a moments notice for last-minute showings.
If all of this seems really overwhelming, don’t fret! We are here to help. Call us any time to speak with one of our licensed agents. 541-312-9449
