16 Great Tips for Home Sellers

Hire a Listing Agent.Just like in a court of law, in real estate it can be argued that he who represents himself has a fool for a client. Interview multiple professionals & hire someone who will work for you to get the house sold based on your needs.

Know what it’s really worth. It doesn’t matter what you bought it for; what the tax assessed value is; what your neighbor sold his house for; or what the same model on the other side of town sold for. The true value of a home is what someone is willing to pay for it. The best way to predict that amount is to get an appraisal which compares your house multiple others that have sold recently & makes adjustments for the differences (size, age, etc.) The next best thing is a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). Be sure to review sales prices (not list prices) & make price adjustments for the differences between your house & the homes it is compared to.

Price your home realistically. Let’s say similar homes in the area have sold recently for $232,500. Keep in mind, that price won’t show up in a buyer’s search for homes priced $200,000 – $229,000. Maybe even consider listing 15-20% less than market value. You could be stampeded by buyers with multiple bids who bid up the price over listing price & possibly over market value.

Promote the property. A house may sell via MLS alone, but printed publications & online search engines only help.

Always be ready to show. Your house should be “show-ready” at all times. Buyers often find their dream home the day before they head out of town. Your house should be available whenever they want to come it, and it should 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. ALSO, be sure it is easy to show ~ Have a lock box or hidden key somewhere so any Realtor can show it to their client at any time.

The first impression is key. No matter how good the interior of your home looks, buyers may not even walk through the door if they don’t like what they see outside. 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.

Take YOU 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 personal stuff – family photos, memorabilia collections and personal keepsakes.

Clear the clutter. This may seem obvious, but even little things that represent your normal routine may make your house seem messy, disorganized and uninviting to buyers.

Half-empty closets. 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.

Let there be light. Maximize the light in your home. Open 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 make your house bright and cheery.

Hide the pets. 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 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 & make them ask themselves what kind of pet damage they didn’t notice.

Appeal to lazy buyers. Assume that most buyers are lazy & don’t want a to-do list. So get the home move-in ready. Imagine yourself as a buyer. What would go on your list of things to do? Do them.

Put upgrade money where it counts. Renovating kitchens and bathrooms may not be in your budget, but what about simply replacing the old junkie faucets, or light fixtures? Buyers won’t get emotionally attached to an “allotment for repairs,” but new carpet and paint have been referred to as buyer-bait.

Stage the home. Whether you’re still living there or it’s vacant, maximize the full potential of your home by arranging the furniture to best showcase the floor plan and maximize the use of space. Consider hiring a professional who can see the space objectively.

Throw in extras. Appliances, wall mounted television, etc. may be worth replacing rather than the hassle of moving (& risk of damaging) them, and could make a big difference to a buyer.

Get a Move-In-Certified Inspection. Check out “For Sellers” on the home page of this website.