Strategies for making your home more saleable
Selling a home can be a complex process, even in a housing market with a shortage of homes for sale. With preparation and the right strategies, sellers can differentiate their house among competitors and sell their home quickly.
Mary Kay Groth, president of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, says before sellers put their home on the market, they should look for a Realtor who is familiar with their community.
“Realtors bring value to sellers by helping them effectively prepare, position, price and sell their home. Realtors know the pricing strategies, buyer preferences and marketing approaches that will achieve the best results in your area,” says Groth.
Here are strategies Groth suggests sellers employ: 1. Improve curb appeal. First impression counts! If the outside of your home looks attractive, prospective buyers will want to see what’s on the inside. Keep the lawn and landscape nicely manicured. Trim the bushes and, season permitting, plant some flowers. Be sure your front door area has a “Welcome” feeling. According to appraisers, curb appeal ranks high in value opinions. 2. Consider staging.
Professional staging is money well spent as a stager can visualize what a buyer can and can’t find objectionable when viewing a home. Your Realtor is a perfect resource in finding your stager.
3. Clean house. An immaculate home can be very inviting and lets prospective buyers know that the owner keeps the house well. Living in a home that is on the market is a challenge as prospective buyers don’t want to see clutter and dirty dishes or laundry, etc. The effort it takes to keep everything “showready” will be worth it in the end. 4. Keep animals off
the property. If you have pets, take them somewhere for the day. You never know if someone can be allergic or fearful of your favorite pet. 5. Remove personal items, including family
photographs. You want a buyer to imagine living in a new home and not living with you in your home.
For your own safety, put away any valuables, electronics, including prescription medication.
6. Make your home
bright and cozy. To make your home inviting, open curtains and drapes, replace burnt out light bulbs, put on soft music. Some sellers will even go as far as baking a pie. The aroma of something baking in the oven can make visitors feel welcome. 7. Take care of minor
repairs. Repair cracked windows, loose door hinges, missing door stoppers or wall plates. You don’t want to waste your time later when the buyer insists on having these repairs done. You may also want to consider making low-cost home improvements like replacing outdated light fixtures or replacing outdated hardware on cabinetry. 8. Price your home
correctly. The number one reason a home does not sell is because it is not priced correctly. The price of a home can often determine whether a home will be sold relatively quickly, or if it will spend more days on the market. Do not base your price on your home’s assessed value or on an online estimate. Your Realtor will be able to complete a comparative market analysis (CMA) of your home. The CMA will show you homes sold within the past 6-12 months. This will help you establish a price range for your home. Most appraisers use sales within the last four months.
Groth adds, “Most importantly, when pricing your home, don’t let your emotions and personal feelings get in the way. Always look at your house from a buyer’s point of view. Be objective and be honest.”