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Aug.3,2010Thinking About Selling Your Home? Follow these quick and easy steps to ensure a quick sale!
Spending a little time sprucing up your home can go a long way, especially in a buyers market. First, make your home stand out with the following guidelines. Next, price it right and it will be sure to sell quickly…no matter what market you are in!
1. Curb Appeal – First impressions are everything, especially when it comes to your house. The exterior of your home will quickly tell the buyer if the rest of the home is worth their time. Therefore, make every effort to ensure your yard looks great. You don’t have to spend a fortune, but you can do simple things such as:
• trimming the bushes and trees
• fertilizing the yard
• planting bright flowers
• lay fresh mulch
• pressure clean the driveway and sidewalk
A little yard work goes a long way to make the best first impressions!
2. Personal Effects – When a buyer walks through your home, you want them focusing on the house, not your decorating. Therefore, it is always a good idea to remove family photos (make sure to clear off the refrigerator), and if at all possible, start removing some of your collectables. Whether you just put them in a drawer or in storage, your main goal is to have the buyer focus on the home and not your personal possessions.
3. Creating More Space – Often times you’re moving because of lack of space. If this is the case, it would be a wise idea to start packing. Clear out the closets so that they don’t look so cluttered. If a room is packed full of furniture, start to remove it. If you have a garage, clear it out or at least straighten it! Of course it’s not always practical to start clearing out all of your possessions, but the more space you can create, the better. And if space is really tight, renting a storage unit is well worth the money. Remember, it’s only temporary.
4. Clean Your House – A clean house is an inviting house! Be sure to clear off countertops and if you have a lot of appliances on the counters, remove as many possible. Clean your appliances (especially the stove) and straighten your draws (and yes, people do look in your cabinets…especially under the sink!). Make sure the bathrooms are clean and sparkling. All of this work might seem overwhelming, but remember that you’re starting the process early. Eventually you will have to pack!
5. Remodeling – Unless you’ve already remodeled an area, don’t start! Unfortunately the money spent on remodeling is rarely recouped and often times a buyer has no appreciation for the change in physical appearances (i.e. carpet, tile, paint, cabinets, etc.). In addition, unless the walls are showing their age (hand prints, dings or other marks) or are painted a very bright color, you should just leave them the way they are. Again, often a buyer walks into a home with the thought of decorating to their personal tastes….no need in wasting your money, time, and effort.
6. Make It Inviting – Whenever you know someone is coming to see your house, make sure that all of the lights are on, the blinds are up and the house is in order. You may not always have advanced warning or you may not be home, so always be prepared. Not only does this make it easier to show the home, but it makes the house warm and inviting.
7. Vacate the Premises – If you are home when a buyer comes, it is best to leave! A buyer wants to feel comfortable to explore the house or even talk about it with whomever they are with. Often times a seller is very attached to the home and will share too much information or distract the buyer from looking at the home. To avoid such catastrophes, make sure that you are not present for showings…even if you have to sit outside or go for a walk!
8. Have A Garage Sale – This is a great source of advertising as well as an excuse to “de-clutter”. Make sure, though, to inform your realtor of your garage sale so that they can provide you with a Home Information Sheet. If you have any interested “buyers”, notify your realtor immediately and allow him or her to show the property for you. Your realtor will pre-qualify the buyer to ensure they can truly afford your property and have a legitimate reason for looking at your house.
9. Price It Right – Whether you plan to sell it on your own or list with a realtor, it is always a good idea to get a Comparative Market Analysis. This is similar to an Appraisal; however, a CMA is done by a realtor and is typically free. The Comparative Market Analysis will give you an accurate price for your home based on the most recent sales in your area. You should be competitively priced and avoid being the highest priced home in your neighborhood. In addition, you can also find out from the realtor the Average Days on Market. This will give you a realistic idea of how long it should take for your home to sell.
Following these tips will certainly aid you in the sale of your home. The more effort you put forth, the better the pay off! So devote a couple of days to sprucing up your home and then sit back and watch the offers roll in!
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