10 Best-Kept
Secrets for Selling Your Home
Tricks of the trade to help you get top dollar when selling your
home.
Selling Secret #10: Pricing it right
Find out what your home is worth, from a qualified agent or appraiser, then
price it correctly. .Done right( in today’s market) you may receive multiple
bids — and they’ll bid up the price over what it’s worth. It’s the single best
strategy to sell a home in today’s market.
Selling Secret #9: Half-empty closets
Storage is something
every buyer is looking for and can never have enough of. Take half the stuff
out of your closets then neatly organize what’s left in there. Buyers will
snoop, so be sure to keep all your closets and cabinets clean and tidy.
Selling Secret #8: Light it up
Maximize the light in your home. After location, good light is the one thing
that every buyer cites that they want in a home. Take down the drapes, clean
the windows, change the lampshades, increase the wattage of your light bulbs
and cut the bushes outside to let in sunshine. Do what you have to do make your
house bright and cheery – it will make it more sellable.
Selling Secret #7: Play the agent field
A secret sale killer is hiring the wrong broker. Make sure you have a broker
who is totally informed. They must constantly monitor the multiple listing
service (MLS), know what properties are going on the market and know the comps
in your neighborhood. Find a broker who embraces technology – a tech-savvy one
has many tools to get your house sold.
Selling Secret #6: Conceal the critters
You might think a cuddly dog would warm the hearts of potential buyers, but
you’d be wrong. Not everybody is a dog- or cat-lover. Buyers don’t want to walk
in your home and see a bowl full of dog food, smell the kitty litter box or
have tufts of pet hair stuck to their clothes. It will give buyers the
impression that your house is not clean. If you’re planning an open house, send
the critters to a pet hotel for the day.
Selling Secret #5: Don’t over-upgrade
Quick fixes before selling always pay off. Mammoth makeovers, not so much. You
probably won’t get your money back if you do a huge improvement project before
you put your house on the market. Instead, do updates that will pay off and get
you top dollar. Get a new fresh coat of paint on the walls. Clean the curtains
or go buy some inexpensive new ones. Replace door handles, cabinet hardware,
make sure closet doors are on track, fix leaky faucets and clean the grout.
Selling Secret #4: Take the home out of your house
One of the most important things to do when selling your house is to
de-personalize it. The more personal stuff in your house, the less potential
buyers can imagine themselves living there. Get rid of a third of your stuff –
put it in storage. This includes family photos, memorabilia collections and
personal keepsakes. Consider hiring a home stager to maximize the full
potential of your home. Staging simply means arranging your furniture to best
showcase the floor plan and maximize the use of space.
Selling Secret #3: The kitchen comes first
You’re not actually selling your house, you’re selling your kitchen – that’s
how important it is. The benefits of remodeling your kitchen are endless, and
the best part of it is that you’ll probably get 85% of your money back. It may
be a few thousand dollars to replace countertops where a buyer may knock
$10,000 off the asking price if your kitchen looks dated. The fastest, most
inexpensive kitchen updates include painting and new cabinet hardware. Use a
neutral-color paint so you can present buyers with a blank canvas where they
can start envisioning their own style. If you have a little money to spend, buy
one fancy stainless steel appliance. Why one? Because when people see one
high-end appliance they think all the rest are expensive too and it updates the
kitchen.
Selling Secret #2: Always be ready to show
Your house needs to be "show-ready" at all times – you never know
when your buyer is going to walk through the door. You have to be available
whenever they want to come see the place and it has to be in tip-top shape.
Don’t leave dishes in the sink, keep the dishwasher cleaned out, the bathrooms
sparkling and make sure there are no dust bunnies in the corners. It’s a little
inconvenient, but it will get your house sold.
Selling Secret #1: The first impression is the only impression
No matter how good the interior of your home looks, buyers have already judged
your home before they walk through the door. You never have a second chance to
make a first impression. It’s important to make people feel warm, welcome and
safe as they approach the house. Spruce up your home’s exterior with
inexpensive shrubs and brightly colored flowers. You can typically get a
100-percent return on the money you put into your home’s curb appeal. Entryways
are also important. You use it as a utility space for your coat and keys. But,
when you’re selling, make it welcoming by putting in a small bench, a vase of
fresh-cut flowers or even some cookies.
Thanks to HGTV
