GETTING YOUR HOME READY TO SELL

15 STEPS TO SELL YOUR HOUSE

1. Start with the outside.  Curb appeal can mean everything as it’s often the first thing a potential buyer will see.  You don’t have to be extravagant, just make sure things look neat and preferably alive if possible.  Mow, trim trees, and bushes and put some mulch in your flower beds.

2. Remove clutter. Remove half of everything.  No cluttered closets, shelves, or stacks!  At a minimum put things away in places buyers won’t be looking.  You want clean and open space.

3. Paint, paint, paint. There is not another home improvement that will give you more bang for your buck than a fresh coat of paint. From a selling standpoint, it is important to stick with neutral colors.

4. Hire a great Real Estate agent. An experienced Realtor can often sell your home faster and for a better price than you can on your own. This, in fact, is one of the most valuable tips for selling a home. Just make sure you hire the right agent!

5. Good photos. The pictures you post on your listing can make or break your sale. They are the first thing anyone sees. If you are not skilled at photography, and your Real Estate agent isn’t either, then hire a professional. It is worth the expense.

6. Consider a video tour. The best Real Estate agents today are utilizing some form of video or slideshows, in addition to photos. Buyers like to take a tour before they decide to visit, which a video allows.

7. Put up a sign in the yard. Putting a “For Sale” sign in the yard will let everyone know what’s going on and makes it easier for people to find the house.

8. Make sure you are marketing using all channels – particularly online. Real Estate agents who have command of their online presence understand the importance of making your home “stand out” from the competition. Again, it all starts with your photography.

9. Take advantage of good lighting. A bright, cheery home is more inviting to buyers. Let the sunlight in if you can and add some better lighting if your home is dim. Even buying brighter light bulbs can help.

10. Consider a professional cleaning. A clean home is inviting to buyers, whereas a dirty home can turn them away faster than just about anything. The easiest way to know your home is spotless and looking its best is to hire a professional cleaning company.

11. Make sure you repair the things that your Real Estate agent advises. Many renovations are arguably a bad investment for sellers, as it is hard to get your money back in the sale. But if your real estate agent advises that you fix some things, like faulty wiring, a hole in the fence, a leaking toilet, or a visible stain in the ceiling, you should do it. These are things that the buyer may balk at or demand a lower price because they feel immediate attention is needed.

12. Address all odors. Remove Bad Home Smells. The smell is powerful and can easily drive someone away from buying your home. However, you may not even realize the smells are there.

13. Make your kitchen appealing. Many buyers are very focused on kitchens, which is why you want to make sure yours is reasonably appealing. Most Real Estate agents will tell you that the kitchen is the most important room in the home.

14. Get organized. The people that are looking at your home are going to open every door, including closets and the garage. You may help your sale by making sure these areas are relatively organized. The better they look, the easier it is for buyers to imagine that they can fit all their things in the home.  And the more a potential buyer will believe you have taken good care of the home.

15. Take your pets somewhere for showings. It is hard for pet owners to imagine sometimes, but some people really don’t like pets. As a dog or cat owner, you may not want to hang out with such people, but they might make a great offer on your home.