Selling a home is a crucial decision to make and bears with it multiple integral factors to be considered. Whether you are selling a house, townhouse, condo or apartment, these tips and tricks will help you sell your home faster, at a higher price and will make sure that it shows well to prospective buyers. First impressions of a home go a long way in determining how quickly it will sell.
Here are a few suggestions that will make your home shows well and more competitive.
1. Be sure the approach to your home is clean, tidy and well groomed. Any brass should be polished, paint on the door should be in good condition and the door should be washed clean of fingerprints and paw marks.
2. If your home is a single family residence, be sure the grass is cut, leaves raked, flower beds mulched and weeded, etc..
3. If your home is in a multi-family building, be sure the hall and entrance area to your home is clean even if it is not your responsibility.
4. Declutter your home to make it appear spacious and allow the buyers to visualize themselves and their household goods in the space. Be sure your home is tidy and uncluttered including closets, cabinets, garages, and other storage areas. When “stuffed,” no amount of storage “shows” as adequate. When really messy, no room looks charming. Remember, most buyers can not see through the stuff. Clutter can be a deterrent to submitting an offer.
5. Make necessary repairs that are noticeably needed but work to keep the expenses at a minimal. Ensure that door handles and locks fit well and firmly, lubricate joints and tracks to make windows and doors run smoothly. Exterior doors should shut and lock solidly, make sure its well secured. Drains and downspouts should be firmly attached and clear of debris so water flows freely. Attached light fixtures should be firmly secured and all lights and fans should be functional. All switches should turn on whatever they were designed to turn on — light, fan, disposal, etc. Available attributes in bathrooms should be clean and in perfect working condition.
6. Conventional wisdom dictates your home should be “neutralized.” You can’t really go wrong following this advice. You know the drill — beige or soft gray carpet, beige, gray, or taupe walls, white or off-white woodwork and ceilings. Sometimes a very soft gold or a soft sage green can also “read” as neutral.
7. Do not over-decorate your home. Remember, simplicity makes your home more stylized. If you have a sure sense of decorating and especially if you plan to leave color coordinated window treatments, you might leave more definite colors in place understanding that a potential buyer with no imagination might be put off by them and not think to request a “redecorating allowance” in a contract offer. Still, beautiful decorating which is not neutral undeniably attracts some buyers. Therefore go for minimal ornamentation and choose light color schemes leaving room for unified choice.
8. If your carpet is in poor condition, consider replacing it. If you have concrete floors, it’s a smart idea to add transparent vinyl paint all over to create a fresh new look.
9. Dark homes show badly while luminous homes contain the curb appeal. If your home is being visited after dusk, make sure the lamps are lit and lampshades are straight with the seams toward a wall creating a ‘light and shadow’ effect that will surely cast an impression of an aesthetic touch in your home. Make sure there is as much natural light as possible; have curtains, shades and blinds open if you are showcasing your home during daylight.
A clean, tidy, uncluttered and fully functional home is enough to attract the most potential buyers. Buyers are looking for a home they can see themselves living in. Follow the above tips and tricks so that you can position your home to sell quickly, at a higher price and most importantly your home will show well. Good luck!
For questions or additional assistance with selling your home or selecting a real estate professional in your area, contact Crystal Lovell with Make It Home Real Estate Solutions. She can be reached via email, crysatal@makeithomeres.com, direct, 757.515.3113, or www. Makeithomeres.com.
