6 Tips For Selling Your Home

Welcome! I'm sure you are here because for some reason you want to sell your house. There are many ways to do that. Think carefully about your goals and your budget. I've listed some tips and questions to help you decide how to get the most out of your home's value.

1 Is it the best time to sell?

You've decided you think you are ready to make the move and put your home up for sale. Did you know that some months are better than others for selling? Spring and Fall typically are better times of the year for quicker sales. Also, is the current market more of a buyer's market? If so, you may have a tough time attracting a buyer, and may have to sell for less than what you expected.

2 Make your home appealing.

Everyone loves curb appeal and window shopping, right? If your home is showing its age, it may be time to make a few minor improvements. The first impression someone will have is the exterior appearance and lawn. Clean up any clutter and have the landscaping revamped. Also fix any obvious siding defects, or paint it if it is looking a little shabby.

If there's anything that sells a house, it is foremost the kitchen. So any minor improvements there will add the most value. Also, depersonalize your home. Potential buyers want to be able to see themselves in the home, so remove pictures, clean up clutter, and make the cleanest set up possible. Just think about how you would react if you were looking for a home and assume others will feel the same way.

3 Price it just right.

Most people want to get the most they can out of their home. But pricing will determine how quickly your home will sell in general. Knowing how to accurately estimate your home's value is one of the most important talents of your agent. Finding an agent that is well acquainted with home values in your area is the key to selling quickly. In a seller's market though, that is often just the starting point, as you may get multiple competitive offers.

Sometimes it's tempting to overprice believing you have room to come down. But that can be a mistake. Buyer's agents may advise their clients that you may be overpriced which may discourage buyers from showing any interest. So pricing fairly and accurately for your local community will draw a lot of attention.

4 Get professional marketing pictures made.

Earlier I mentioned that appeal is the first impression that you make. But having a professional set of photos of the interior, exterior, and yard will set you above the average. It is becoming more common for offers to come sight-unseen. So, many potential buyers will be looking digitally at homes, and you want to shine above others. Taking photos from the right angle will convey a more realistic sense. The more photos you make available, the more of a complete picture buyers will see and, therefore, the better chance you will have to wow them up front.

5 Consider paying part of the buyer's closing costs.

It is not uncommon for buyers to request that sellers pay a portion of the buyer's closing costs. Unless you will likely have a very narrow margin of cash from the sale after all of your closing costs have been paid, it could be a backup plan. But each situation will be different, and don't feel pressured to pay. You will have to consider if the deal is good enough or if you feel desperate enough to pay a portion of the closing costs. If you are willing, ensure there is a limit on the dollar amount you agree to contribute.

6 Want top dollar? Stage your home.

Building on the appeal thought again, make your home look move-in ready by staging it with temporary furniture and decor. This especially works well with high-end and luxury properties. If you will be vacating your property before putting it on the market, this will likely make an even bigger impression on potential buyers. Staging combined with minor upgrades will make your home more attractive to a higher class of buyers. At the very least stage your kitchen, dining room, living room, and master bedroom if you decide to do it. But don't stage it for too long--no more than a month or two.

There is a lot to consider. If you want to get the top price, then it may pay off to spend a little bit to make it the most attractive. But it depends on whether it is a buyer's or seller's market as well as how quickly you need to move. The first step you should take is to get an comparative analysis based on your neighborhood. Call me, Vanessa, at (727) 418-9078 to get started today!