It pays to spend some time and effort positioning to ensure that your home sells at top dollar, even in a sellers' market where inventory is limited and bidding wars occur frequently. It can be a combination of things, such as working with an agent who knows the local market and spending money to ensure your home is in its best possible light for potential buyers. Realtors have 10 tips to help you sell your home and get a higher price.
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1. Find a Real Estate Agent
A local real estate agent who knows the area well can help you sell your house more quickly and for more money. Data from the National Association of Realtors indicates that houses listed without a Realtor were sold at a median of $310,000 between July 2022 to June 2023. Interview several agents before settling on one. The better you get along with them, the easier the process will be.
2. Invest in Improvements That Add Value
The cost of home improvements can quickly add up. Spending money on projects that will give you the best return is key.
A Realtor always recommends minor kitchen upgrades. The kitchen is the heart of the house and many buyers judge the property by it. Don't overdo it: "A complete renovation of this area can cost tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, but a small update will yield the best return,". Think about resurfacing the cabinets, replacing the countertops, giving them a new coat of paint, or updating fixtures and hardware.
Remember this "The Brilliant Home Buyer". "Renovated bathrooms and kitchens " the money rooms" -- the most value for a house,"
3. Enhance Your Curb Appeal
You don't have a second opportunity to make a good first impression. Make sure that your front yard has no debris and that the bushes have been pruned. The grass should also be cut. Add some potted plants to the front of your home. This will make potential buyers feel more welcome.
Other easy ways to improve curb appeal include
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Exterior paint touch-up
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Add window flower boxes
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Installing a mailbox
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Add new mulch to shrubs and trees
4. Pre-listing Inspection
Another step you should consider is investing in a Home Inspection before putting your home on the market. It's better to know in advance if you can fix any problems before the buyers do. This will give them more bargaining power or, in worst-case scenarios, an excuse to cancel the deal. It may be worth a few hundred dollars to have peace of mind.
Remember that there is a downside of a pre-listing check: "Beware because, once a seller learns about a defect, and doesn't fix it before listing, they have to tell a buyer,". Buyers who discover that defects were present but not disclosed before accepting an offer can ruin the deal.
5. Professional Photos Can Help You to Highlight the Positives
A little money spent on professional photography can help you sell your house for more. Most people look for property online. If the photos are vibrant, they can translate to a higher price and faster sales.
You can still leave some things up to the imagination, but not everything. The goal of photos isn't to give away all the goodies online but to get a buyer to want to see more. It's to whet his whistle enough to get him to come see it personally. If they don't make an offer, likely, they won't visit the home.
6. Your Home Can Be Transformed With a Little Creativity
There are two simple rules to follow when it comes to home staging: Less is more and neutralize it. It is important to grab buyers' attention from the front entrance. Pay special attention to the entrance: repaint, place flowers, buy a new area carpet, a dramatic mirror, or an impressive piece of art.
Remove clutter and objects that can visually shrink the room. For example, large ottomans and too many plants. Also, remove all items from your kitchen counters, except for a few new appliances. Also, don't forget the patio or deck. It can help make a smaller home seem larger.
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7. The Right Price to Ask For
Finding the right price for your house can be crucial to your success. "Setting the prices too high can be detrimental, and prevent buyers walking through your door.
How can you strike the right balance between pricing to make a profit and not overprice? Your agent's expertise can be very valuable in this situation. Your agent's expertise will help you to understand the fair market value of your home, what it is worth in your area, and how much money you can expect to receive for your home in today's market.
Severance says that "good pricing requires expertise in threading the needle." List at a price that is below comparable properties to attract attention, but not too low to be disappointed if only one buyer offers the list price.
8. Remove All Personal Items
Severance says that the goal of any home showing is to have the buyer imagine their belongings within the space. While family photos, knickknacks, and other items may seem to have no impact on the price of your home, they do. This is especially true if you're still residing in it while you try to sell.
Buyers who are distracted by their items will likely not be able to see themselves in the room and won't make an offer. Buyers think about their furniture and where they will place it. The buyers came to view the house, not its contents.
9. Be Prepared to Move Quickly
After your property has been listed, things can move quickly. You should be prepared so you can respond quickly to any potential offers. You should fill out any necessary documents such as seller disclosures and keep copies of utility bills, repair costs, and home renovation costs on hand for any requests from buyers.
10. Use Your Brain, Not Your Heart
Final tip: remove emotions from the equation. Your home is not "home", but rather a product to be sold. You may find that buyers ask for credits or repairs. It is easy to get offended as a seller when this happens.
It's important to remove emotion from the situation and to remember that buyers don't always expect to receive everything they request. Take a closer inspection of the buyer's request and see if it is valid. If so, offer to meet their needs. You will not lose the buyer if you give the concession. Instead, it is the cost of putting the house back on the market and starting over.