A house sale requires a lot of preparation. But there are many tips of the trade that can help you to have a successful and snag-free home selling experience.
The most important tip is to price your home right. This is what will get your house the most attention and ultimately a high offer.
Price
One of the most important things you can do to make your house easier to sell is to determine the right price for it. Buyers make their decisions based on first impressions, and experts estimate that buyers decide whether to buy your house within six seconds.
You can learn a lot about the local market by studying homes that are currently listed and have sold recently, which you can find online through real estate websites or in county records. Compile a database of homes that are comparable to yours and analyze them to come up with a starting point for pricing.
However, if you over-inflate your home’s price, you may turn off potential buyers. Many buyers who would have otherwise looked at your property will bypass it altogether if they think it is too expensive for their budgets. To avoid this pitfall, it is best to work with a professional realtor who knows the area well.
Curb Appeal
Buyers form their first impression of a home before they even walk through the door, and that initial impression is often determined by curb appeal. Bland, uncared-for landscaping and an outdated front door can make a home forgettable, while a beautiful yard with fresh mulch and bright flowers can draw in buyers looking for their next place to call home.
According to a 2019 study by HomeLight, improving curb appeal is one of the most profitable home improvement projects for sellers. A well-maintained lawn, a simple color scheme for the house, and removing overgrown bushes can increase a property’s value by as much as 5-11%.
Adding landscape lighting is another easy way to improve the curb appeal of your home. Not only does it create a warm, welcoming ambiance for guests at an open house, but it also helps to safely guide visitors to the front door. And don’t neglect to spruce up your entryway, including a bench and a pot of bright flowers, to make it welcoming and inviting.
Interior Staging
It is important to get your home in order for showings. It is a good idea to declutter, putting away personal photographs and other items that can distract buyers from envisioning themselves living in the house. It is also a good idea to give your house a thorough cleaning, removing odors and making it feel fresh.
If you are unable to do this on your own, many real estate agents will recommend hiring a professional home stager. Staging companies can provide furniture and decorations that will make your home more attractive to prospective buyers. They can also rearrange the furniture in your home to define spaces and help buyers visualize how they would use each room. They can even point loveseats and couches toward each other to create more conversational spaces.
It is important to focus your staging efforts on the rooms with the greatest impact on buyers, such as the living area and master bedroom. It is also helpful to replace out-of-date appliances and paint any bold colors with neutrals.
Open Houses
Once your house is ready to hit the market, it’s time for open houses. These events — advertised online and off via roadside signs and posted fliers — let potential buyers explore a home without having to schedule a private showing with their real estate agent.
Buyers will poke around drawers, test appliances and play with doors to get a sense of the space. They may also notice a dripping faucet or a scuffed tile floor that requires some quick repair. Getting these items taken care of before the opening will help sellers avoid a last-minute scheduling scramble that could lead to a missed offer.
It’s best to have all the family members and pets out of the house during open houses so prospective buyers can take their time. That way they can really get a feel for how the property would fit their lifestyles. If you have young children, consider taking them to a friend’s or hiring a babysitter for the day.