Selling your home can be a stressful process but careful planning and partnering
with the right real estate "Expert" can make the experience much smoother. Prior
to initiating the process, you can take a few steps that will start you off on the
right path. Contact an Expert Local
Realtor for more information on how you can get the highest price for your
home or condo.
Be the Buyer
Start by taking a look at your home from the perspective of the potential buyer
that will look at your home. Take on the role of the prospective buyer and "walk
through your own home". Stroll through the front yard and walk up the front door,
entering and then walking through
the entire home, garage and backyard. Exit as
the potential buyer would through the front door walking back to where
their car
would be. As you do this, make notes of things that detract from the beauty of the
home and the ability for the prospective buyer to get the best view of the home.
Clean House
Review the list you made from your walkthrough and determine what needs to be done
to correct the issues. A little paint here, some clean-up there and you will be
amazed at how much impact this will have on the impression your home makes. It is
always a good move to "unclutter" any and all areas where it is difficult to see
the features of the room or area for the boxes, furniture or other items blocking
the area.
Open Wide
Think about holding an Open House and holding it soon after signing the listing
agreement. Open Houses get a large number of potential buyers exposed to your home
in a short time frame. An open house takes your commitment but it is well worth
it.
Don't hesitate, prepare
Think about how quickly you could be ready to move if the buyer wants a quick close
and move-in. Preparation for the move ahead of time might open up the option of
a quick close. Not
being able to move out quickly could eliminate relocating buyers
who are always "serious buyers".
Leave it to us
Determine what personal property and appliances go with the home. Consider leaving
the appliances as certain buyers may be coming from housing where the appliances
were furnished. You may very well get more for the appliances by leaving them in
the house than what new ones will cost you.
Who you gonna call?
Start putting a list of all your service providers and utility providers together
with contact numbers. You will need this in the process.
Do a Good Deed
Have a copy of your deed ready for your Local Expert Agent. If you can't find a
copy of your deed, a copy of any mortgage on your home will do. A prior survey would
also be helpful.
Tips For Showing Your Home
Once you have your home listed for sale, we recommend that you prepare for each
showing as follows:
Preparing Your Home for Showing
Take a "walk through" of your house and grounds carefully viewing every area and
room. First impressions are extremely important. The prospective buyer does not know the love and care that you have put into the home. They can only appreciate
what they see when they view the property.
Take a Walk Through
As you go through, make notes of items that need to be addressed including areas
where cleaning or painting might help. A $5 can of paint or some pressure washing
can actually mean the difference in sales price of $5,000 or more.
Cleaning and Painting
The removal of any and all toys and personal items from the yard should be done.
Remove or Store all Clutter
You need to make sure that the curb appeal is the best it can be. The front needs
to be clean and neat. The lawn needs to be mowed and trimmed and the landscaping
needs to be trimmed with all dead leaves and plant material removed.
Curb Appeal
You need to make sure that your front door is always kept clean since it is the
first place that your potential buyer has to wait while they preparing to enter
to view your home. A fresh coat of paint on wooden doors can really help.
Front Door - First Impressions
As with the exterior of the home, prospective buyers cannot see past excess clutter.
Storage of these items in closets or the garage will help.
Less is More
Excess furniture or personal items can sometimes keep the prospective buyer from
appreciating the true size of the room or floor plan. Again, storage of these items
will help.
Bake Cookies
Baking cookies or fresh bread on the day of an open house, or showing, will help make buyers feel at home.
Call the Local Experts for a listing appointment! We know your neighborhood
and have the selling options that will allow you to retain the most from your sale while making the process smooth and painless.