Home sellers need to think of their property as a product instead of a home. The better your home looks, the faster it will sell. Often what helps a home sell faster is also what helps it sell for more. Surprisingly enough, just having a low price isn’t the key. Today’s buyer wants to move right in, and they will pay a premium for this.
1. Declutter
Decluttering makes every room look larger and feel neater. Buyers have trouble imagining themselves in a cluttered house. By removing or storing things you don’t need – including furniture – you create a roomy, comfortable feeling that will be inviting to prospective buyers. When decluttering, remember: less is more. When in doubt, throw it out!
2. Clean, Clean, Clean
A clean home shows the prospective buyer it has been well cared for. Be sure every room smells as good as it looks, paying special attention to pet areas, nurseries and bathrooms. Buyers will be impressed with sparkling clean kitchens and bathrooms. Consider hiring professionals to clean carpets, steam clean tile and grout, and paint stained walls and dinged woodwork. A little paint goes a long way toward brightening up a home. Buyers like move-in condition and will pay more for it!
3. Make Repairs
Making repairs eliminates buyer objections before they arise. If you think something is too much trouble to fix, chances are a buyer will as well. Buyers tend to think repairs cost a lot more than they do. Just like cleaning, a home in good repair reinforces how well a home has been maintained.
4. Depersonalize
Neutralizing helps buyers imagine their own things in your home and picture themselves living there. Neutral paint, décor and flooring create a home for any lifestyle. Today’s buyers gravitate towards a “greige” palette and clean lines without fussy window treatments. Eliminating distracting colors, particularly from living spaces, allows to buyers concentrate on positive impressions.
5. Remodel or Upgrade
The best returns come from the smallest improvements; painting stained woodwork and cabinetry, new paint, new carpet, refinished hardwood floors and new hardware all create a fresh new look for the home for minimal cost.
If you want to go a step further, consider upgrading appliances, countertops, and fixtures (both lighting and faucets). Major remodeling such as replacing kitchens, bathrooms, roofs and windows should only be done if necessary. Although doing major upgrades will help a home sell faster, the time it takes can be quite long and you are less likely to see a dollar for dollar return.
6. Stage Your Yard
Buyers make an instant determination of how desirable a home is based on the curb appeal. A beautiful front yard creates a good first impression. Once you remove weeds, rake leaves, trim hedges and walkways, and prune trees, you can begin to stage the front of the house! New plants, flowers and mulch will brighten your yard. Beautiful pots create a welcoming feel. A fresh coat of paint on the front door and trim really pays off!
7. Stage Your Home
Staging is often dismissed by agents as unimportant, most often because of cost. At Thomas|Riddle Real Estate Group, we believe that good staging increases the value and appeal of a home. A stager looks at a home through a “buyer’s lens” and can make suggestions for how showcase your home to its best advantage. We believe so strongly in the power of staging that we even include a session with our home stager as part of our marketing services.
A well-staged home photographs better, too. And since the photos of your home are most often its first “showing” to a potential buyer, quality photography is vital. As with curb appeal, the better the home looks, the faster it will sell.
Bottom Line
The better your home looks, the faster it will sell. When you sell your home with the Thomas|Riddle Group we will help you maximize the value of your property and sell it with proven results. We provide affordable, practical, and creative solutions personalized to make your home stand out to buyers and list of vetted professional to help prepare your home for market.
Thinking of selling your home? Let us bring value to your selling experience. Get Started Here!