Guest feature by Leanne Brooks
Selling your home can be challenging. It’s a whole process that usually involves time and effort. That’s why for most homeowners wanting to sell their home, prefer the assistance of a professional. A realtor usually knows the ins-and-outs of selling a home. Their arsenal of tricks and hacks, they’ve gathered after years of experience is exhaustive and quite impressive. This knowledge is usually shared between realtors but there’s no rule saying that only they can do this. Here are 5 tips to sell your home.
1. A Reasonable Price
Knowing the value of your home and listing it at a reasonable price will greatly increase the interest in it. Most realtors are expert at this. They assess not just the home but the market, the neighborhood the home sits and how fast you need to sell the house. They use many tools to set up a price for a property, one that computes how much you’re going to earn including their commission. Setting the price high might scare any potential buyers and your house will sit on the market for quite some time. Not many people are keen to purchase a house that’s been in the market for a long time. They’ll assume something is wrong with it. So set your price reasonably.
2. Get Rid Of Bad Odors
No one wants to enter a house with bad odors and the first thing they notice is the smell. Even before seeing the rest of the house, they’ve already formed a bad impression of it in their head. It’s important to address bad odors immediately before putting your house up for sale. Clean the kitchen top to bottom and clear out expired and old items in the fridge. Clean carpets thoroughly and dispose of old furniture. Clear wash bins and drains properly. While you’re at it, scrub toilets and bathrooms clean too. Open up your house to allow ventilation. A good smelling house is always a great selling point. Some realtors will even go far as to bake pastries as buyers come in to make the house smelling delicious.
3. The Selling Point
In order to sell your house fast, you must know what its key selling point is. No two homes are the same so you should know what makes your home special and market it as such. Maybe you’ve got an open-layout living room that can accommodate many guests. Or a great view in the backyard. Some homes are close to good schools and parks. Or a massive kitchen that’s perfect for a family that loves to cook. One way to know your house’s selling point is by asking your friends what they love about your house or listening to guests about what they have to say. You can also ask yourself why you got the property in the first place.
4. Increase Curb Appeal
A buyer’s first impression of your house is usually made as they drive up to it. The facade of a home, including the front lawn and garden is the first thing that people notice about a property. If you want to sell your house fast and at the price you set, it’s important that you pay attention to its curb appeal. Take a close look at your home and determine what needs improving. Do you need to clean the windows? Do landscaping to your garden? Do you need to have a rain gutter or two fixed? Curb appeal can determine whether a buyer wants to make an offer or continue looking at other listings.
5. Depersonalize
Yes, you’ve made many memories in your home and it’s hard to let them go but if you want to sell your house, it’s time to take them down. Remove photos and collectibles. Make your home as neutral as possible because you don’t want buyers to come in thinking they’re guests in the house. You want them to picture themselves living in it so you want to stow away personal items.