I sell real estate for a living so I feel I am a bit of an "expert" in this area. Check out some tips below if you are starting to think about selling your home in the near future.
Before you show your home, check to make sure it’s condition is one you’d be proud to let a few million Americans see. Too often sellers delay or lose out on offers because they don't’ take preparing for showings seriously or relax after the first few visitors.
Here are a few tips to make sure your property makes the right impression.
1. Check the computer view
Most home first impressions today are online, so it’s important that you view your home like a buyer will. To do this, take pictures of the interior and exterior of your house. Upload them to a computer. Zoom in and pan your photos to get a buyer’s perspective on your property.
2. Walk-thru with an outsider
Do a walk-thru of your home with a trusted friend. Fresh eyes, ears, and noses can spot defects you have learned to live with or simply forgot about.
3. Curate your curb appeal
Go outside and inspect your driveway, walkway, decks and porches. Take note of cracks, oil stains, overgrown shrubbery and bare spots on the lawn. These should be high-priority on your fix list if you don’t want buyers to turn away before they’ve taken a real look.
4. Silence the strange sounds
When you walk through, check for creaky floors, loose doorknobs, shaking handles, and windows that don’t open. Add these to the top of the fix list because normally the solutions (a new door knob or oil) are pretty cheap.
5. Clear the way
Be sure to de-clutter all flat surfaces, closets, cabinets and your bathroom vanity. Donate excess or move some items to a storage facility. Your goal is to show a home buyers can see themselves in; that can be hard with your personal effects in the way.
6. Consider staging to speed-up the process
Home staging professionals use furniture, placement, accessories and lighting to help make the best impression on potential buyers. Staging is for your home’s interior and exterior including your deck, patio or lawn. A staging investment can help sell a great home in a flash or help buyers appreciate the potential in harder to move listings. Talk with your agent about his or her staging experience. You can also get DIY staging ideas from home shows, magazines, and open houses in your area.
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