What You Should Know Before You Sell

Real Estate
Selling Tips

Would it be wrong to assume that if you’re a homeowner you probably want the highest possible price on the sale of your property? Well in order to achieve that we need to talk about home preparation. Many times homeowners want to skip this step and it usually hurts the end results of the sale. Home preparation is underrated and overlooked but in my opinion it is one of the most important steps in the selling process. Another reason why homeowners try to skip this step is that they do not have the resources or idea of where to start, let me help with that. Here are the most common tips I share with my homeowners on home preparation:

  1. Declutter: Think of the ladies of The Home Edit. It might not be realistic to get your home organized to perfection but at the least organize your home so it is simplified and decluttered. Otherwise the focus will be taken away from the house. Unfortunately most buyers are not visual navigators and they usually get turned away from a property if there is too much going on inside. 
  2. If something is broken, fix it. Yes, it's going to cost you money to get everything in working order but do you know what’s going to cost you even more money? Having to credit the buyer for anything that is broken. If there is a lightbulb out, replace it. If there is a drip coming out of the faucet, replace it. You may think the buyer or their inspector will miss these but wouldn’t it be better to steer on the side of caution and avoid any delays or renegotiations due to broken items?
  3. Re-sand and refinish your floors: If your agent suggests to get your floors re-sanded and you have the money to do it, do not hesitate. The return on your investment will triple. 
  4. Price Right: There are several pricing strategies out there, some of which I support and other’s which I do not. Pricing right is not easy, it takes experience, market knowledge and a lot of research to come up with a price. If you price too high, your home is likely not to get traction and it can go stale. Buyers will approach a home that has been on the market for a long time differently than a home that has less than 30 days on the market. Before you list, make sure to put aspirational goals aside and look at concrete sales data. Nothing will hurt the sale of your home more than listing for a high number from the start. 
  5. Be prepared. Selling is a bit intrusive. You’re putting your hopes, dreams and trust in your agent to procure a successful sale while allowing strangers to peek into your closet and around your home. It can be daunting at times and it's an emotional process so before you decide to sell, be prepared.

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