Whether you are preparing to sell your home through conventional sales or as a short sale there are some very important things to keep in mind. You only get one chance to make a good first impression. Unfortunately there are no “do overs” if you don’t make a good one.
The very most important thing to consider in the sale of your home is the price tag. Make sure your house is priced similarly to your competition. If your house is priced too high nobody will bother looking at it. It is better to price your home competitively at the start and get it under contract quickly than to have it sit on the market for a while before reducing the price. Most of the interest on properties is within the first 30 days. If it is on the market for too long people will begin to imagine what could be wrong with the property. Your Realtor can help you establish the correct price.
Once the price is set the next thing to consider is the house itself. Look at your house as if it is the first time you have seen it. Does it have good curb appeal? Maintaining the bushes and lawn and making sure the toys, trash cans, & lawn equipment are put away are easy fixes. If your house is in need of exterior paint at minimum make sure the front door is in good condition. The front door is the first part of your home the buyers will touch.
Walk from room to room. Do you see clutter, outdated or oversized furniture, or disrepair? Use your other senses. Is there a distinct pet smell or does a smoker live there? Most people don’t notice these things in their own home because they are used to them.
Buyers get distracted by family photos when they are everywhere. The same goes for collectibles. Depersonalization is a key to preparing your house for sale. Removing clutter, family photos, and excess toys give the home a better appearance and makes it seem maintained. Potential buyers need to be able to imagine themselves in your house and not focus on the memories you have created there. Be sure to put away any valuables to prevent any temptations. It is essential that the house maintain a clean appearance while you have it on the market. You never know when THE buyer will preview your home.
Neutralize the color palette. White walls are too sterile and uninteresting for most people. By the same token, most colorful paint and wallpaper selections are too personal and may be a turn off to buyers as well. This says to the potential buyer that there is work to be done before moving furniture into the home. These are added expenses that many people don’t want to spend which may deter them from your house. Fresh paint throughout with a neutral color gives the appearance that the home is well maintained and has continuous flow. Paint also helps to get rid of offensive smells.
The scale of the furniture in the room affects the appearance of space. Large furniture takes up space making most rooms feel smaller. Large furniture requires large rooms to work well. “Shop” for furniture in other areas of your house. Is there furniture in another room that would complement the space better?
A neutral carpet that flows throughout the space will actually make the house seem larger. If the carpet is in bad condition and there are hardwood floors underneath, then pull out the carpet & expose the wood floors. Wood flooring is a tremendous asset & warms the feel of the space. If the carpeting is in good shape take the next step to have it cleaned. That will help get rid of stains and odors.
This is the perfect time to have a yard sale. Overflowing closets send a bad signal to potential buyers. Everybody needs storage. Pare down the kid’s toys or keep them in their rooms. This is the perfect time to weed out what you don’t intend to move.
A cluttered kitchen looks like there is no counter space or storage and may come across as outdated and dirty even if it is not. Organization is the key. Leave only a few items on the countertop. Make sure there are no dirty dishes in the sink. That may seem like a given but I have seen it, believe me. Replace the cabinet hardware to update the look of the cabinets. There are ways to update the kitchen and baths without having to break the bank.
Making bathrooms feel spa-like adds to the appearance of a clean and well maintained home. Buy new matching towels and maybe a few inexpensive accessories or candles. Make sure the bathrooms are clean and the countertops are free of excessive items.
People remember the good and the bad. Give potential buyers something good to remember. As a seller, you want them to remember the spaciousness, nice finishes, & cleanliness. You don’t want them to walk out of your house thinking about all of the work and money they will need to spend. Fixing leaky faucets and squeaky floors prevents the buyer from finding things to justify a low offer. You don’t want buyers to think there are too many repairs to be done and walk away, especially if cheap and easy repairs can be done.
Be sensible with any money spent on the house before selling it. Cosmetic changes do not have to be expensive. It’s attention to details that will help increase the marketability of your home.