Get your house SOLD!

 Get your house sold!

You did it. You have agonized over it for months but finally, the decision is made. You’re ready to sell your home. Now what? Some clients that I work with make the decision and think it’s as simple as taking some photos and posting the house on our website. It’s not! Here is a quick list of best selling practices to ensure that you’re getting the most you can out of your home sale process.

1. The price is right-No, not the TV show. Your home! Make sure that your home is priced appropriately within market and neighborhood trends. You may have a figure in mind that you’re looking for, but that may or may not fit into the reality of the real estate market. Consult your expert team (realtor, broker) to get their input and set yourself up for success from the start.

2. Freshen it up-Outdated light fixture? Broken coat rack? Window that won’t open all the way? Fix those little things, they could make all the difference in a potential buyer’s opinion. If you painted a wall lime green, you might want to re-paint it in a more neutral color. Studies have shown that neutral colors encourage buyers to see themselves living in your home. You want to show that your house is ready to sell and although they might make some changes, you will not want them to have to worry about tiny cosmetic issues. It could also prevent them from making an offer below asking price and speed up the selling process.

3. Leave it to the Professionals-It might not hurt to consider hiring a professional cleaner to do a full on deep cleaning of the house. These individuals are experts and they spend their days making sure that the houses they clean are in tip-top cleanliness! To save on cost, do a little cleaning yourself first-typically they charge for time spent and the size of the space (but check into it with the specific individual cleaning service).

4. Consider staging-Whether you have moved all of your furniture out of the house or it is still inside your home, a professional stager can assist in helping your home appeal to potential buyers. The cost to have it staged is pretty affordable.  If you aren’t keen on spending that type of money, you could see if they would offer a consultation for less in order to get some suggestions. While you may be satisfied with how your furniture is positioned, a stager knows what will appeal most to potential buyers.

5. Get the smell right-Candidly, the smell of the house matters! The smell of the house is potentially the biggest turn off for potential buyers (if it’s not a good one). Don’t just cover the smells up with an odor eliminator; instead, clear drains, open windows, get rid of furniture that smells, wash the sheets, and so on. On the other hand, some smells can be especially appealing to potential home buyers, so if your house is showing, bake cookies or cupcakes (or light a candle that smells like it), and have your real estate agent brew a fresh pot of coffee during an open house.