Maybe you think selling your home is an insurmountable challenge these days. After all, there is a lot of competition out there, right? Well, maybe there is, and maybe there isn’t. Many of the homes on the market are foreclosures and short sales. They are being sold vacant and in as-is condition. There are a few things you can do to improve your chances of success in the current real estate environment.
Tip One:
The right mindset is very important. From the moment you decide to sell your house, it ceases to be your home. Pack up your personal mementos and photos, and put them in storage. Try to create the illusion that your house is a furnished model home. You want buyers to imagine their own personal items in the space. This is hard for them to do if your belongings are everywhere.
Tip Two:
Before you put your home on the market, take the time to do any necessary cosmetic repairs to the interior. Time invested in making your home market-ready will pay dividends by increasing the chance of a quick sale. This is not the time to schedule a full renovation project. However, you should replace, paint or repair anything that is broken, worn, ragged or stained. Deal with any odor issues. Aggressively remove all clutter. Donate it, toss it, or put it in storage. Make sure all of your closets, drawers and cupboards are clean, uncluttered and organized. Buyers almost always open drawers and doors. Clean everything until it shines, then clean some more.
Tip Three:
Take a good look at the exterior. Curb appeal is crucial. Trim the hedges, keep the lawn mowed and edged, and keep the sidewalks swept. Pick up any yard waste. Plant some colorful flowers. Make sure the garage door is in working condition and that the garage itself is clean, uncluttered and organized. . Create and install some custom yard signs to stand out from the crowd. When you are done, have a few friends that you trust give you their impressions.
Tip Four:
Know the value of your property. Try to interview at least three agents before deciding on a company, and make sure to choose someone with a record of success in your area. The person you choose should be able to guide you in deciding on a fair market price for your property. Be realistic and set aside your emotional attachment to the house. In this case, emotion is not your friend.
Tip Five:
Have your property ready to show at a moment’s notice. If you make it too inconvenient for agents and their clients to view the place, they may choose to look elsewhere. That means keeping the dishes done, the kids’ toys picked up, the carpet vacuumed and the beds made, at all times.
Tip Six:
Let the realtor show your home. Hovering sellers make buyers feel awkward. Give them their space so they feel comfortable communicating honestly with each other and with the realtor about the property. If the property is not being shown, call the realtor and find out why. Needless to say, a sale is very unlikely if the property is not being shown.
Above all, be patient. If you follow a few basic commonsense principles, price your house attractively and work closely with an experienced realtor, you can tip the odds of a faster sale in your favor.
Russell Keller has worked as a realtor for the past 12 years and loves finding creative ways to help homes sell faster. One method Russell recommends is using custom yard signs to make your properties stand out, such as the ones found at http://www.inkhead.com/yard-signs/.
