It is no secret that it is difficult for many homeowners to sell their homes. They are competing with hundreds of other homes in their price range and often times foreclosures and short sales that are priced even lower. Here are a few tips to make your home stand out and move quickly into contract!
1. Remove clutter: You may love all those vacation souvenirs and photos on your shelves but potential buyers may see it as clutter. Get a head start on packing by putting all your knick-knacks, pictures and papers in a box. Don’t forget to remove all the magnets and photos from the fridge! Your house will be clutter free and it will be easier for the potential buyer to envision it as their own!
2. Paint: Yes, you may nostalgically remember having put up that flower wallpaper 10 years ago or painting the babies room bright yellow, but realistically it may not appeal to others taste. Freshen up the interior of your house with a fresh coat of neutral paint. Stay with creams and beige. With a little bit of elbow grease an about $100 you can give a dingy room a face-lift.
3. Carpet: It is a major turn off to walk into a house and see dirty, worn carpet. If your carpet is an eyesore you may consider replacing it with a low cost neutral carpet before you put it on the market. Yes, it may cost a little more now but it will definitely give your home a better first impression. If you can’t afford to replace the carpet in your house at least have it professionally cleaned.
4. Fix big problems: If there are big problems that you see in your house your prospective buyers will see them too. So don’t ignore it, fix it! Non-working water softener? Pay to have it fixed, or get a new one. Big hole in the wall? Get some drywall and patch it up. Ugly peeling linoleum in the kitchen? Put in new flooring. Anything that can cause instant dislike for your house should be fixed, as long as it isn’t too expensive.
5. Kitchen and bathrooms: Kitchens and baths are HUGE selling points to a house. The more you can update them the better. A quick way to spruce up the bath is by hanging white fluffy towels and putting some fresh or dried flowers on the vanity. A candle or potporri is a nice touch too. Splurge for a new shower curtain (neutral!) or make sure the grime is removed from your glass shower doors. Final touches should be some fresh caulk and a good scrubbing! For your kitchen, give your cabinets a good wipe down. Remove all appliances and clutter from the counter and clean up the pantry. Make sure countertops and flooring are in good condition and consider replacing them if they aren’t. A big bowl of oranges and lemons makes a great centerpiece and gives a clean, fresh feeling to your kitchen.
6. Play up the assets of your house: Does your home have a large master bedroom? Make sure it feels that way by removing excess furniture and clutter. Have great views? Make sure your windows are clean and the blinds are removed or at least pulled up. Is it located in a good school district or near important attractions? Leave information and literature out for potential buyers to read. Think of why you like living there and make sure your potential buyers see it too!
7. Price it right: It is no secret that your house is worth a lot less than it was two or three years ago. Of course you may think it is worth more because it is your house and you think it is great! Remember though, it is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. Your agent probably has a good idea of what homes in your area are selling for so listen to them. Have them do some comps and tell them you want to price it to sell. Just remember, is likely you are getting your new house at a bargin too.
8. Do your own advertising: Just because you have an agent doesn’t’ mean you can’t do some marketing on your own. Advertise your home on Craigslist and email your friends. Sometimes word of mouth is one of the best ways to market a house.
9. Get a good agent to help you sell: Get a good agent to help sell your house, not a friend of a friend who just got her real estate license. Your house is one of your biggest assets, and this is no time to do someone else a favor. Call a local real estate office and ask for their top salesperson. Interview a few agents and ask them to tell you what their marketing plan is for your home. Use someone who understands the power of the internet, the importance of good interior photos, and an overall marketing strategy for your house.
10. When the house is showing, keep the house clean and don’t be there!: When you are having an open house, or the house is having a showing, make sure that you aren’t there. There’s nothing more annoying than having the home’s owners in a house when you’re trying to look at it. Also, make sure to keep the house spic and span to make sure that it shows well. Finally consider baking cookies before a showing, or lighting one of those cinnamon roll candles. It will give the house a pleasant aroma, and people will feel at home.
Selling your house in a down market isn’t an easy task, but you can still do some hard work along the way and make your chances that much better. If you are looking to sell real estate in Tucson Arizona, call the Blass Team. We can help make your selling process a lot easier!
www.blasshomes.com
