10 Best Things to Do When Selling Your Home

Tricks of the trade to help you get top dollar when selling your home.

Selling Tip #10: Pricing Your Home right
Find out what your home is really worth, then shave 15 to 20 percent off the price. You’ll be stampeded by buyers with multiple bids — even in the worst markets — and they’ll bid up the price over what it’s worth. It takes real courage and most sellers just don’t want to risk it, but it’s the single best strategy to sell a home in today’s market. Although this is a very gutsy move and a lot of times it pays off, it really is a gamble. This works on TV and in some really hot markets with a lower priced home. This will not work on high end or luxury listings. It is something you may want to discuss in great detail with your real estate listing agent. It does high risks and high reward. Also keep in mind a Zestimate does not tell you the true value of your home. Only a real estate agent or appraiser can give you a true estimate of your home’s value. At that point you need to accept the professional opinion of the value of your home.

Selling Tip #9: Half empty closets and Just Declutter
Declutter is a word I say a lot in my business. 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. Buyers will snoop, so be sure to keep all your closets and cabinets clean and tidy. People do not want to see that the closets are 100% full. They will start thinking there isn’t enough room for their stuff. They may think if the seller doesn’t have enough room neither will they.

Selling Tip #8: Light it up
Maximize the light in your home. No one (well most people) don’t want to live in a dungeon. They want to see as much natural light as possible. After location, good light is the one thing that every buyer cites that they want in a home. Take down 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 – it will make it more sellable.

Selling Tip #7: Pick the Right Listing Agent
A secret sale killer is hiring the wrong broker. We are the best real estate brokers in the area. We are a small brokerage that gives you up close and personal attention. We are high tech. We market your home throughout the internet and make sure all possible buyers see your home. We don’t have the huge overhead the big guys do. We don’t have hidden listing fees and consts. Now franchise fees. Just low listing side fees and no other chargers for you on our end. Make sure you have a broker who is totally informed. They must constantly monitor the multiple listing service (MLS), know what properties are going on the market and know the comps in your neighborhood. Find a broker who embraces technology – a tech savvy one has many tools to get your house sold.

Selling Tip #6: Conceal the critters – No Stinky Pups or Cats
Even if you don’t smell your cat, we do! So many homes lose so much interest do to a stinky critter. 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 see a bowl full of dog food, 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. If you’re planning an open house, send the critters to a pet hotel for the day.

Selling Tip #5: Don’t over upgrade or Over Do It With the DIY Projects 
Quick fixes before selling always pay off. Mammoth makeovers, not so much. You probably won’t get your money back if you do a huge improvement project before you put your house on the market. Instead, do updates that will pay off and get you top dollar. Get a new fresh coat of paint on the walls. Clean the curtains or go buy some inexpensive new ones. Replace door handles, cabinet hardware, make sure closet doors are on track, fix leaky faucets and clean the grout.

Selling tip #4: Take the home out of your house. Time to Depersonalize 
One of the most important things to do when selling your house is to depersonalize it. The more personal stuff in your house, the less potential buyers can imagine themselves living there. Get rid of a third of your stuff – put it in storage. This includes family photos, memorabilia collections and personal keepsakes. Consider hiring a home stager to maximize the full potential of your home. Staging simply means arranging your furniture to best showcase the floor plan and maximize the use of space.

Selling Tip #3: The kitchen is A Very Important Selling Feature 
You’re not actually selling your house, you’re selling your kitchen – that’s how important it is. The benefits of remodeling your kitchen are endless, and the best part of it is that you’ll probably get 85% of your money back. It may be a few thousand dollars to replace counter tops where a buyer may knock $10,000 off the asking price if your kitchen looks dated. The fastest, most inexpensive kitchen updates include painting and new cabinet hardware. Use a neutral color paint so you can present buyers with a blank canvas where they can start envisioning their own style. If you have a little money to spend, buy one fancy stainless steel appliance. Why one? Because when people see one high end appliance they think all the rest are expensive too and it updates the kitchen.

Selling Tip #2: Always be ready to show. Always Think There Will Be a Showing That Day
Your house needs to be “show ready” at all times – you never know when your buyer is going to walk through the door. You have to be available whenever they want to come see the place and it has to be in tiptop 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. It’s a little inconvenient, but it will get your house sold.

Selling Tip #1: The first impression is the only impression. Buyers Walk in and Walk Out of Homes Everyday all Day
No matter how good the interior of your home looks, buyers have already judged your home before they walk through the door. 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. Entryways are also important. You use it as a utility space for your coat and keys. But, when you’re selling, make it welcoming by putting in a small bench, a vase of fresh cut flowers or even some cookies.

What it boils down to is this seller market is slowly going the other direction. Sellers need to help sell their homes. There are a few easy things to do help help your home sell fast and for the right money. Help your listing agent and help yourself at the same time. The little things all add up when selling a home. Especially since the buyers are starting gain a little power. They have the power to walk away and go to the next home now. Your listing is no longer that much more special than the one next door. Keep in mind the memories of your home have no value to a new buyer. Those memories are priceless to you but don’t try to add them to value of your home when pricing or setting the right price for you home.