How fast your home sells and for how much, depends on a myriad of factors, many of which are out of your control. However, there are some things you can do to prepare your home before it goes on the market to help see that SOLD sign quickly.
Tips for a Quick Sale
Repair everything
Before you put your house on the market, be sure all the little fixes are done, all those things that you’ve learned to live with over the years (e.g., peeled paint, ripped carpet, broken doorknobs, etc.). While these small repairs may seem inconsequential, if unattended, it may lead the buyer to think you’ve been negligent with some of the bigger items such as the furnace or roof. If these bigger ticket items need repairs it’s better to invest in making repairs yourself and not leaving those to the buyer, which will ultimately cost you more time and money.
Make your house “neutral”
Potential buyers have to be able to envision themselves in your house and to do that they need a clean slate. While you may love purple or be a tropical plant fanatic, you have to leave personal taste out of your house. To sell your home, you need to present it to be as livable to as many people as possible.
Create a welcoming atmosphere
First impressions are everything. As soon as someone walks in your door you want to create that feeling of “home”: a place that is clean, safe, warm and in great condition. A place they want to buy! To do so, you’ll need to remove clutter, clean thoroughly and extensively, remove all offensive orders (e.g., pet, mildew, smoke, etc.) and add some comforting scents such as cinnamon or fresh flowers.
Stage a “buyable” house
In addition to a clean, nice–smelling house, a house that sells is one that is staged just right. To do this you’ll want to arrange your furniture in an open, inviting way, replace heavy drapes with sheer ones, add fresh flowers and other accessories. We can help you set the stage for a buyable house.
Don’t forget the exterior
Curb appeal, that impression you get when you first drive by a house, is huge. Your home can be in great shape, look fantastic, smell wonderful but still not sell if the exterior is not up to snuff. Draw the buyers in with a fresh coat of paint, a pot of flowers and a well maintained yard.