Tips for Home Sellers
Deciding to sell your home is an enormous decision for you and your family, but I can help make it an easy transition.
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Preparing your home for sale - whether you choose to use an agent, or you decide to sell it on your own - is extremely important. For buyers a first impression is everything, and if the home is cluttered or smells bad that can adversely affect your ability to sell the home. Below are a few tips on how to prepare your home for sale.
- Detach your emotions. Your goal is to create spaces in which as many people as possible will be able to envision their potential home. Reminders of your life will distract potential buyers from that. To properly prepare your home for sale, pack away your personal items, including photos, souvenirs, and other mementos.
- Clean and reorganize. Clean your home from top to bottom and make especially sure all appliances are spotless. Reorganize the closets and pack away as much your belongings as possible. However, storage room is a priority for buyers and a full closet does a poor job of showcasing the amount of storage room available. Make sure your storage patterns are efficient and neat. If you are using a spare room for storage, pack away the clutter and ensure the space is properly furnished.
- Furnish empty rooms. People buy homes - not houses. Empty rooms make it hard for buyers to get a good sense of the space. Large rooms look cavernous, and small rooms look even smaller when empty. Oddly shaped rooms make it especially hard for buyers to visualize how to arrange the room. Staging your empty property with just the right furniture is key to ensuring that buyers will be able to visualize living in the space.
- Brighten and lighten. Light-filled rooms are always appealing. Open blinds and make sure your windows are sparkling clean. If there are no windows in the room, make sure the lighting is adequate and keep all the lights on when showing the property, even during the day. A fresh coat of neutral colored paint goes a long way to brighten up the space.
- Spark your buyer's imagination. Set the dinner table for a formal dinner, light the fireplace on a cold day, and add some fresh flowers to your decor. Creating the proper atmosphere helps buyers envision themselves living in your home.
- Perform those minor repairs. Buyers prefer to see a home in move-in condition. Even small things such as a dripping faucet can detract from the value of your home.
- Don't be too unique. Keep your decor simple and modern with neutral wall colors. Unusual accessories and strong wall colors will limit your pool of buyers. This is also true for renovations. The right renovations can often boost the price of a home, but be careful not to do it with too much flair. Your unique style may set you apart but it will also shrink your potential pool of buyers. Remember to keep it simple and modern.
- Keep your neighborhood in mind when renovating. Actual returns on renovations depend not only on the renovations themselves, but also on how your home compares to your neighbor's. If your home is already above market value for your neighborhood, your renovation may not yield a higher return. Buyers looking at moderately priced homes won't be able to pay a premium for luxury finishes. Ask your Realtor to give you an assessment of homes in your area before embarking on costly renovations.
- Improve security. Household security is a sought after feature in homes. Simple measures such as adding window locks and motion sensor lights outside can boost the attractiveness of your property. In densely populated urban areas, blinds and shutters are good additions to provide privacy.
Why use a Realtor? Time, convenience, security, and return on investment are just a few reasons to use the expertise of a Realtor. Cost is always the first reason that many people choose not to work with a Realtor. However, national studies show that a home sold by owner typically receives 16% less than a home sold by a real estate professional. That is well over double the cost of an agent's fee, and that translates to 'real money' out of your pocketbook! So please, let a Realtor represent you in the sale of your home.