How to sell in this booming market

The market has really been booming into the new year, and we’re quickly finding out that there is more demand than we have in inventory. People are buying everything up that they can, except those few homes that just can’t seem to sell. If one of these is your home, here are some things to consider:

Make sure that it looks good

I know it might seem like a pain, but it’ll pay off in the end. Pressure washing the siding to clean it up may be just what the doctor ordered. People are looking to buy right now, and they may just pass you by if the exterior isn’t where you need it to be. You’d be surprised what a difference a little elbow grease can make. Recently, we had a client who had a brick home, but the chimney had some residue from soot, but they thought it would take forever to clean it up. In the end it probably took 2 hours to get it looking like it was brand new. These easy steps can boost the offers you get by a few thousand dollars and get you offers quickly, so don’t be shy.

Put away the junk

When it’s time to sell your house, take the time to clean out the junk. There are a lot of hoarders out there, and it can be hard to get rid of some stuff, but you have to. People aren’t interested in your vintage beanie baby collection or the massive train table in your basement (both true stories). If you want to sell your home, you need to make sure the buyer can see it as their home! That means, leave some room for the imagination, and let them see their stuff in the space, not yours.

Strike the balance

Unless you’re selling brand new construction, then your home should feel lived in. This doesn’t mean that you should have clutter, but you should have some staging done. An empty room leaves too much to the imagination. Empty ta-

bles seem lacking, but a small bouquet can bring that homey touch. The same goes for the walls, pictures can really help to fill that space. This art can be hard to get right, but if you’re working with a realtor

they can help you get it right.

Look to the floors

Floors are often overlooked, but they are a big selling point to people. So, make sure you get them in good condition. That means steam cleaning your carpets to make them look their best. If you have hardwood floors that are getting worn, you may want to refinish them. It’s not uncommon to have carpeting over wood floors in some older homes. If your home is one of those, you may want to consider pulling out the carpet. I’ve had buyers who had a nasty carpet with worn walking paths in the carpet, and we just pulled up the carpet to reveal gorgeous hardwood floors.

Paints

Painting is actually much easier than you may think. If your walls are not where they need to be, you can get them prepped and painted pretty quickly. This work may be a huge factor in how quickly your home will sell. Take the time to get it right!

With the market heating up, you’ll have a great experience. If you’re a little nervous about what to do, reach out to your local real estate agent, and get some advice.

Maureen Hughes is the Lead Listing Specialist of The Wayne Megill Real Estate Team of Keller Williams Brandywine Valley in West Chester. For buyer or seller representation, or for more perspective on the local and national real estate market, please email maureenhughes@kw.com and visit The Wayne Megill Team site at www.waynemegillteam.com.