Tips for Selling Your House
Putting your house on the market can lead to big headaches. But with a little preparation and work upfront, you can sell your house quickly, efficiently, and at a premium price point.
- Curb Appeal
The first item to tackle is curb appeal. The first thing buyers will see when they pull up to your house is the landscaping and the front door. Make sure that your lawn is freshly mowed, hedges and bushes are trimmed with no dead foliage, garden beds have fresh mulch, and driveway and sidewalks are swept. Planting fresh flowers in the garden or a pot on the front porch adds a vibrancy of color and a welcoming atmosphere. The front porch and door also need to be freshened up by sweeping cobwebs, cleaning windows, and wiping dust and dirt off the door. You can also add a homey sign or wreath for an added welcome.
2. Declutter the house
After presenting buyers with an amazing curb appeal, you should make sure the inside of your house is decluttered. Everything should have a place in the house. Nothing should be on the floor. Toys should find a home in organized bins or toy boxes that are out of the way. Counters should be cleared of papers and odds and ends. Tables should be free of clutter. Laundry rooms should have shoes in the bins, clothes in the baskets, and washers/driers free of clutter. Closets should not be jam packed with belongings, but half way full to give the idea that there is space.
3. Deep Cleaning
Buyers want to see a clean, decluttered house. Nothing turns off prospective buyers like a dirty, smelly house. When cleaning make sure the house is dusted, doors and windows are wiped down, lighting is clear of dirt, carpet is clean and unstained, and the house smells fresh. Try to not cook strong smelling food, but instead open the windows and add fresh scents to the house.
4. New Paint
A coat of fresh paint can make a home feel fresh and revived. Look for scuff marks on the walls or paint colors that are not neutral. These rooms should be repainted in a calm neutral color that is non-gender or taste specific. Buyers should be able to walk in and envision their belongings and furniture in your house without thinking about making changes.
5. Repairs
Buyers are usually looking for houses that are turn-key and take little work to update. Every small issue does not need to be fixed before putting your house on the market, but any major repair needs to be done before hand if you do not want to lower the listing price on your house. Buyers want to be sure the house is taken care of and the property has been well managed. Any holes in the walls, loose wiring, or water marks on the ceilings are going to deter potential buyers.
6. Timing and Price
After getting the house ready to sell, look at the time period you are selling in and the price. It is always more difficult to sell a house after the start of the school year or the winter. If possible, it is better to wait and put your house on the market in the spring and summer in order to move the house quickly. Setting the right price for your home is also a large contributor in determining how quickly your house sells. Be reasonable about what your house is worth. When market comparable are given by a realtor, follow market values and trends in order to sell quickly. An overpriced property may get overlooked for showings and will be slow to sell.