There
are a lot of things to think about when deciding to list your home on
the market; from finalizing your decision to sell and setting a price to
figuring out where to move on to. But one aspect of selling that gets
ignored by many sellers is what to do with the home prior to showing it
to the public.
Like
anything else that is up for sale, the seller should show a house in
its best light. And with our market the way it is lately, more and more
sellers are up against other sellers so the competition demands upping
the ante one step more. Here are a few tips on what you can do to
prepare your home for sale and what it takes to get the home sold.
Make an Accurate Assessment of Value
Contrary
to what many homeowners believe, the original purchase price has no
bearing on the value of a home. Neither does what the neighbors think
it’s valued at have much impact. The only thing that will impact your
home’s value is the current market conditions in your local area and the
condition of your home. To determine your home’s estimated value and
then subsequently set a good price for it – a Comparative Market Analysis
is performed. Through the analysis, we are able to see other like kind
homes that sold in recent months and do an “apples to apples”
comparison.
Establish An Aggressive Marketing Plan
A
very important component of selling a home successfully is the market
campaign that goes behind it. This includes anything and everything from
contacting an existing database of buyers and investors to setting the
stage for perfect display using technology. Professional photographs,
video and virtual tours and aggressive mail campaigns are also a huge
part of a successful marketing scheme. The idea is maximum exposure and
with today’s buyers conducting most of their searches online – studies
show that 90% of buyers are online for the first few weeks of their
search – we focus a lot of our attention on the Internet.
Display Your Home for All Its Features
As
a buyer walks through your home, it is critical that they be able to
see and experience all the amenities and features of the home for
themselves. Keep in mind that they will be inclined to shortlist your
home if they can imagine themselves in the space. Removing extra
clutter, personal items and freeing up overcrowded areas to show off the
home are all steps you can take to make the home show well.
Professional home stagers offer varied levels of services ranging from
providing a consultation to written reports, moving around your existing
furniture or even providing their own display items.
Repair, Renovate and Remodel
The
last thing you may want to do when selling your home is to put money in
it to fix it. But surprisingly, even just a few small changes can
greatly enhance your home’s value. Whether that means repainting the
walls to a neutral, buyer-friendly color,
resurfacing damaged wood floors or updating an old bathroom – depending
on your budget, it is a worthwhile endeavor to look into.
Make the Home Inviting and Presentable
A
common mistake many sellers make when preparing their home for sale is
to forget making the home inviting. Whether that means making sure the
home smells pleasant, creating a nice entryway at the foyer or creating
enticing curb appeal – make them feel comfortable. Make an effort to
have the home clean and sparkling – with no evidence of pet or smoke
smells. Buyers will appreciate this.
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