In a Buyer’s Real Estate Market you must ensure that your house is in the best condition in order to beat out your competition. There are many other homes on the market so you will need every advantage you can imagine to get your home bought before your neighbors. You may be intellectually ready to move on but most home sellers are not emotionally prepared.
Emotional Preparation To Sell Your Home
Emotional preparation is harder the longer you have owned your home. As you own a home you develop memories that might be attached to the seasons and holidays, parents, getting married, 1st birthdays, pets and all kinds of other things. But, someone buying your home doesn’t have these same memories. As a seller in a tough buyer’s market, you must emotionally let go of the memories and present your home to buyers as move-in ready.
Below you will find tips that will help you sell your house.
What Is Curb Appeal?
Curb Appeal is best described by going out to the road in front of your home and taking a long look at your home. Does it look presentable? Does it look like a home that someone would want to purchase? If not, what can you do to spruce it up. To sell your home it must look ready to be sold; to get top dollar is must look better than the rest of the homes on your street.
Pull weeds, rake leaves and trim overgrown shrubs, especially if they block windows or the path to your front door. Consider power washing sidewalks driveways and exterior walls of house if they are dirty or stained. At the very least touch up paint on the eaves, and around the base of the home, around the windows etc. If you have to, invest some money and paint the whole exterior.
De Clutter Your Home
Most buyers are not visionary enough to see their furniture, etc., in your home. It is even harder if there are too many distractions in their vision as they are viewing your home. If you have too much of your memories out for view (to them is it considered junk and clutter), potential buyers will not be able to see themselves in your home. They will only be able to see your stuff all over the place. Sorry to say this, but you need to get your personality out of the home.
Stuff Everywhere Indicates Not Enough Storage
Make sure that each room has a definite purpose by removing exercise equipment from the bedroom; children’s toys in the dining room; pet food and water bowls in the kitchen; newspaper or magazines stacked on tables, floor or corners; and multiple bookcases filled with books or memorabilia.
Do not forget the garage! Stacked floor to ceiling boxes, old lawn furniture, toys, sports equipment, etc., leaves the buyer with the impression there is not enough storage. Install shelving and pegboards, hang bicycles on racks on the walls, have a garage sale to get rid of items you no longer want or need and sweep the floor!
Fresh Paint Can Add Thousands Too The Value Of Your Home
It is important to make your house generic. A fresh coat of neutral paint will make your home appear larger, brighter and more appealing to potential buyers. Beige does not have to be boring! Soft sage green, pale blues or gray with a blue tinge are neutral colors which can be enhanced by using pops of color in pillows, vases, artwork, etc.
Make Sure All Of Your Home Systems Are Working
Repair things like leaky faucets and sticky cabinets, and replace old screens. Replace burned out light bulbs. Replace missing electrical or switch plate covers. These may seem insignificant, but minor repairs add up in the mind of a potential buyer. They tend to overestimate how much repairs cost. Lack of attention to details is a red flag to buyers. If small things need repair, what might the seller be hiding? You don't want to give buyers any reason not to put in an offer.
Rearrange Your Furniture
Create a focal point in the main living space if there is no fireplace or large window. This can be in the form of a large painting, color blocking one wall, etc. Make sure your furniture placement allows for easy traffic flow and shows the purpose of each room. Pull furniture away from the walls. Show how spacious the room really is. If you have too much furniture, rent a portable storage device to hold things until you are ready to move into your new place. If you don't have enough furniture, borrow or rent some to fill in the gaps.
Pack Up The Junk In Your Home
Less is always more. The less clutter and knickknacks you have lying around, the more potential buyers will be able to see your home and what it offers. Remember, you are selling your house, not your stuff. Plus, getting a head start on packing will eliminate some stress down the road.
Organize Your Home
When your house is meticulously organized, buyers will envision themselves living a stress-free life in your home. Closets are especially essential in being presented in an organized manner. Cluttered or overstuffed closets represent lack of storage space to buyers.
Clean Your Home And Keep It Smelling Clean
Clean every inch of your house, and do not forget to make your floors sparkle. If your carpet appears old and stained, think about replacing it or having it professionally cleaned. Take the time to really clean your sinks and bathrooms. Buyers are especially sensitive to these areas.
Also, make sure there are no offensive odors. Purchase an air-neutralizing spray that will help remove odors without creating an overwhelming masking odor. Do not cook fragrant foods before a home showing. To improve the smells in yoru home consider baking cookies or an apple pie before the open house. Fresh baked goods suggest a warm inviting home.
Remember clean homes sell.
Make Sure Your Home Shows Light And Bright
Let the sun shine in, and turn on the lights. Open all blinds or curtains, and make sure the house is well lit. If there are any light bulbs that are out, change them. Burned out bulbs could suggests problems with your home’s electrical system. Along with this, make sure that your windows are clean; no one likes to look out a dirty window.
Keep The Home At A Comfortable Temperature
Be sure potential buyers are comfortable when touring your home. If it is freezing outside, leave the heat on, and if its summer, turn on the air conditioner. Make sure your ceiling fans are set on a low setting so that there is air flow which will help keep the temperature uniform throughout your home.
Keep it Ready to Show
It may be a little inconvenient, but until you accept an offer, keep your home in tip-top shape at all times. If you are serious about selling your home you need to be ready for showings at any time. Make sure that each room maintains a clear purpose, nice flow and is clean and clutter-free. Buyers need to be able to picture themselves and their things in a room, and taking these steps will help inspire a potential home buyers imagination.
Consider Using A Home Staging Company
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