Seller Tips
So you want to sell your home? If you are like most sellers you want to sell it quickly and get the price you set for its value. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when selling your home. The key is to keep your perspective and think about what attracted you to the home when you were house hunting and decided on the one you have.
Get Emotionally Unattached. The buyer is looking for a house to make their own 'home', it doesn't matter to them that you built it, raised your kids there or moved in after you married your high school sweetheart. Although the home has sentimental value to you, its true value is basically set. The property values in the neighborhood and how much houses similar to yours are selling for in the market. The quality of construction, needed repairs, upgrades and remodeling and curb appeal.
Simplify the Décor. When buyers are viewing homes they will imagine their own furniture and personal style of dˇcor in the rooms. With this in mind try to make the home as neutral as possible by packing up some of your personal items and personal effects, remove overcrowded pictures on walls or excess furniture from rooms and tidy/reduce clutter in closets, basements and in the garage. This will allow the buyer to remain focused on the home and not the items inside.
Clean and Sanitize. There is no substitute for a clean home when you are selling! A clean home smells fresh and inviting. If you aren't exactly a neat freak or don't have time, hire a professional. It will be well worth the money. When a buyer sees a messy home, they will suspect poor maintenance and hidden problems. For example if they see dust piled on ceiling fans they may think the furnace filter was not changed regularly. The smell of cigarettes or other strong odors can offend and immediately 'turn off' a potential buyer. Don't try to cover up the smells, just take the time to really clean, scrub and sanitize.
Make Repairs. Sometimes inviting a trusted friend to scrutinize your home will reveal some minor repairs that you had become blind to. Drywall cracks or patch seams are more noticeable to a newcomer in your home. Separation of the flooring to the bathtub, visible carpet seams, etc. look very closely and tend to each and every one. Get all mold, mildew or mineral build up completely removed and any other repairs completed and you will not only get better leads you will get better offers.
Curb Appeal. What ever it takes to get your buyer to want to come inside will be well worth the additional landscaping or clearing required to have the home exterior groomed for viewing. Remove any debris, old cars, that rusty swing set or antique chairs with plants you thought were adorable last year. Seed the grass, plant flowers, edge the walkway and remove stains from the concrete, if possible. This way your drive-by lookers won't jus keep on driving. With curb appeal they will want to see inside.
REMEMBER: Showing your home to potential buyers is only part of what will make your sale a success. Hiring the right people to do the job will make all the difference in the world. Bottom line, well maintained and realistically priced homes sell quicker than those that aren't, and an assertive knowledgeable agent will get buyers to your home.
You can count on Meg Davis to sell your home for you. Call Today.