Tips for Selling a Home

An experienced agent will have the expertise and connections to help you with prepping your home for sale, pricing, marketing, and negotiations. Only about 10% of homes are successfully sold by owner, simply because most homeowners don’t have the broad experience of a real estate professional.

Consider a seller’s pre-listing inspection to identify issues and needed repairs that could deter buyers. Complete any that are relatively quick and inexpensive, and prioritize larger projects by how critical they are, and the estimated return on investment. Your agent can help you determine what expenditures will net you the best results based on other properties in your area. Consider attending open houses in your area to see how other properties compare to yours and get ideas for staging and sprucing up your home to show.

• Remove personal items and family photos.
• Tone down or eliminate taste-specific decor like bright colors and themed rooms.
• Paint rooms in pale, neutral tones.
• Remove clutter and pack up knick knacks.
• Remove all traces of pets for photography and before every showing.

Don’t distract potential buyers with grunge or clutter. A sparkling clean home welcomes buyers and helps to reassure them that you haven’t neglected other things like home maintenance. Don’t forget the windows! Clean windows (inside and out) actually let in more light. Consider hiring a professional cleaning service if you can’t do it yourself.

• Repair any chipping or peeling paint. Hire a professional painter if needed.
• Clean your gutters and fix damage to gutters or downspouts.
• Clean your siding with a pressure washer if it’s safe to do so.
• Pressure wash your driveway and walkways.
• Clean all windows, screens and shutters.
• Clean any outdoor light fixtures.
• If it’s tired or drab, put a fresh coat of paint on your front door.

• Keep your lawn neatly mowed, trim edges and pull weeds.
• Trim trees and shrubs (have a professional do this if you’re not experienced).
• Apply a few inches of fresh mulch to planters.
• Add pots of colorful flowers by your front door.
• Add a welcoming seating area on your front porch if you have space.

If your listing price is too high your house could linger on the market, creating the impression that there’s something wrong with it. If it’s too low you could leave a significant amount of money on the table. A good real estate agent will conduct a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) before recommending a listing price. The process incorporates information about your local market, the condition and features of your home, current pricing trends, and other factors to generate a listing price that will balance profit and a quick sale.

A well staged and tastefully decorated room showcases its features while minimizing shortcomings. The right amount and scale of furniture can make a small room feel more spacious, and help buyers picture how their belongings will fit. Your staged home may feel a bit bare, but it will be worth it. Staged homes typically sell faster and receive more offers than homes packed full of owners’ belongings, and even empty homes.

Most buyers see your home for the first time online. Your listing photos should grab their attention in a good way! Declutter, clean and stage your home before your photo shoot and be available to move items if the photographer requests. A good real estate photographer has seen hundreds of homes and will know how to show yours at its best.