The real estate market is heating up. There are even homes that took days to be sold. What could a home seller actually do to have their homes ready for sale?
In order to sell top dollar every week, there are 3Ps to be considered: preparation, pricing, and promotion. Most home sellers control the first two, which is really a wrong move. We are not just aiming to get an offer, but getting multiple offers and ultimately the BEST offer possible.
THE POWER OF PREPARATION
Effective preparation is always the key for successful home selling. Home selling starts with a concrete plan; you don’t just sell your home in the market without a clear goal in mind. Preparation is a MUST in home selling.
The HGTV channel staged various beautifully remodeled homes, and these made the home buyers more expectant. The closer you can get your home to selling it, the better. It is really a great way to attract your buyers towards choosing your home.
WHAT BUYERS REALLY CONSIDER
Buyers choose homes based on the ONLINE IMAGES. If the home’s curb appeal is not that impressive, buyers move on. If the elements found at a home is not eye-pleasing, buyers will also move onto the next home.
Most buyers focus on several elements of the home: curb appeal, yard/view, living room, kitchen, master bathroom, and master bedroom. Aside from the home’s physical features, sellers must also be ready for inspections. This means that a home must be well-maintained in terms of its furnace, water heaters, roof, plumbing, and all the working appliances.
THINGS TO FIX BEFORE A HOME SALE
Deferred Maintenance
A home should always be well-maintained, especially if it’s going to be sold (e.g. for an open house). Deferred maintenance will make the buyers look for another home. Things such as ragged patterns and stains on carpet and even pet damage must be fixed immediately for the home’s sale.
Ragged Patterns and Carpet Stains
Pet Damage
Bad Odor: Repellant for Buyers
A home filled with unwanted or displeasing smell is a no-no for buyers. Pet odors and strong cooking odors (e.g. onions, garlic, fish) are means to upset buyers, so better take them out of your home. Also, using heavy candles and air freshener to make the home smell fine is not really encouraged.
Pet Odor
Strong garlic odors are not good!
As a matter of fact, there are home sellers who actually bake cookies during the home sale. Cookies smell good when baked, and this is one strategy home sellers do to attract buyers to their home. Not just that: there are also free cookies!
If you have cookies, make them available to the buyers!
- Mismatched Appliances
Appliances that don’t really belong in a specific portion of the home is not really good for inspecting buyers. Place all the appliances to where it should be.
- Cluttered Rooms
Cluttered rooms take the attractiveness of a home away! Clutters just show that a home is not yet ready for sale.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
- Empty Rooms
Vacant rooms don’t really show well. Fill each room with the necessary fixtures and appliances that would make it more pleasing to the eyes.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
BEFORE:
AFTER:
WHAT DOES IT COST TO PREPARE A HOME FOR SALE?
Preparing a home for sale could cost very little. In most cases, it’s a few key improvements that make a huge difference. If you do not have the resources, we often fund the improvements and get reimbursed at closing for our costs.
BEST BANG FOR THE IMPROVEMENT DOLLAR
- Curb Appeal
The home door is the first thing that is seen during a home sale, so it must be painted. Peeling paints must be fixed immediately. Aside from that, mulch beds must be refreshed.
- Kitchens
The kitchen is one of the most sought-after portions of a home during a sale. It must contain the proper kitchen wares that serve as it highlights. The flooring, appliances, and hardware must also be checked and well-maintained.
- Baths
For the baths, it must have light fixtures. Hollywood lights are not really needed at all. Also, most buyers deeply dislike carpeted bath floors, so you might as well consider some upgrade for that.
NO MORE HOLLYWOOD LIGHTS!
CARPETS AS BATH FLOORS IS A BIG NAY.
- Get rid of the clutter monster.
Home clutters are indeed an eyesore, especially for home buyers. All clutters must be well-organized before the home sale. Remember, acing the top dollar is about presenting a home that is clutter-free.
THIS HOME FULL OF CLUTTER IS NOT FOR HOME SALE.
Even in this RED-HOT SELLERS MARKET, preparing a home to get top dollar will pay off exponentially in most cases.
If you would like to find out what your home will sell for in this market, what to and what not to do to get ready to sell and how much you will put in your pocket when it sells, call us at 719 301 3900.
