Putting Your Home on The Market:
It’s Easier Than You Think!
There are always eager, motivated buyers. And if your home offers the most appealing package of pricing and amenities, it will stand out. Talk to the experts at Ron Clark and we’ll help you with any questions you may have about making the decision to sell your home including the benefits of moving to newer, more efficient housing now, rather than waiting. And we’ll help you find the resources to start planning the move.
It’s so true, first impressions count. And potential buyers can make a yes or no decision within minutes. If a home doesn’t look right at first glance, many people won’t even stop to go in. So making sure your home presents its best face right from the start is key to getting the sale.
What buyers want
8 ways to make your home speak to them.
Here are some essential considerations for prepping and polishing your home to be a competitive player in the housing market.
1. Start out by pretending you’re the buyer.
It can be tough to give up the emotional ties you have to your home, but if you’ve decided to sell, you’re already on the road to distancing yourself. Take a thorough survey both inside and out. It will help you to really see things you’ve just been ‘living with’ for years. You may have learned to overlook deficiencies, but they will pop out to others.
2. Is there appeal from the curb?
Of course you’ll keep the lawn mowed, weeds pulled and bushes trimmed. Even remove some if they’re hiding the house or a view. But are there cracks that need filling on steps, driveway, foundation? Old, peeling paint is definitely not allowed. Be sure even your mailbox is in good shape. For a finishing touch, add lush pots of whatever is in season ‘ flowers, cattails or spruce tops.
3. Create more space.
That is, the illusion of space. It’s as simple as taking away all the stuff that sits around on countertops and shelves, or fills closets to the bursting point. Potential buyers will perceive it as clutter, not charm. If storage areas are full, your home appears to have too little of it. Box up the excess and store it somewhere off site.
4. Help buyers see themselves living there.
Take yourself and your family out of the picture, literally. Replace family photos and mementos with attractive accessories. The last thing you want is for someone to feel like they’re intruding on your territory or that they don’t fit in here. They need to be able to envision themselves in the home.
5. Lighten and brighten.
If you’re repainting or recarpeting, use lighter, neutral colors for their wide appeal. Analyze your lighting and be sure to have it on ‘ even during the day, it adds an extra level of warmth and ambiance. Clean windows so they sparkle. And open up window treatments to let in as much natural light as possible.
6. Don’t overlook a single minor repair.
Fix that dripping faucet or cracked tile. Repair the door that sticks and the windows that are even slightly hard to open. Doing so will help eliminate any chances a potential buyer might have to wonder whether there are other, more serious repairs that need to be made. And they don’t want to be the ones to make them.
7. Consider hiring a professional stager.
With a trained eye for what works and what doesn’t, a stager can quickly determine what will enhance your space. Even something as simple as rearranging existing furniture and adding a few new accessories can make a big difference in how someone will perceive a room. Their hourly fee is often well worth the investment, returning itself in a higher asking price or quicker sale.
8. Be 100% ready before the for-sale sign goes up.
Rejuvenate and freshen everything that needs it before you put up the for-sale sign. Sales agents generally regard the first few weeks a home is on the market as the most desirable. The more impressive your home looks from day one, the better your chances of selling for the full asking price.