The lengthy economic downturn has been hard on many, especially the homeowner. In what seems to be a seller’s market, homes certainly aren’t moving as fast as the owner would like.
Though selling one’s property is a daunting task, here are a few tips that may boost your chances of attracting buyers and closing a deal.
Keep furniture in: To be fair, some people choose to leave their home decorated when they list it, but those who don’t may be making a mistake. Without question, an empty home immediately feels, well…empty. It gives the potential buyer no decorative sense of inspiration, and may expose flaws such as that unseemly scuffmark on your wall.
Redecorate! That’s right. Why, you ask? Because the goal is to make your home as attractive as possible. It can be something as simple as rearranging the sofas in your sitting room, or you can take it a step further by repainting your home in preferably bold colors, such as red, yellow, or bright green, as opposed to plain old white. Don’t be afraid to get creative! And for those who lack that bone, make it a habit to pick up a home-themed magazine in order to garner some fresh ideas.
List every good feature: Are your sinks new? Do you have a finished basement? Is the area quiet? Are the schools just a walk away? Certain things you may take for granted are not to be overlooked when you list your property. For instance, even if you don’t have children, nearby schools may be just what a potential buyer is looking for.
Show a clean house: Even if you’re not the cleaning type, it’s very important that you set aside a day…or two, depending on the state of your house, to make everything as clean as possible. It goes without saying that no one wants to move into a dirty house. So clean the windows, vacuum the floors, and clean the chimney if you have one. But most of all, make it your top priority to keep the bathroom(s) and kitchen looking as spotless as possible.
Explain your price: This runs in with you listing every good feature. At face value a buyer may not think your house is worth the $299,000 that you have it listed for, so be sure to explain it. Perhaps you just had a new kitchen put in, or you recently expanded your home. Whatever it is, let the buyer know.
Don’t beg: This is, perhaps, the most callous piece of advice. But unless you are truly in dire straits, it’s not a good idea. Your desperation can actually risk making the buyer more apprehensive, because they’ll wonder why, if this house is so nice, you’re so eager to get it off your hands.