Getting Your Home Ready to Sell

If you’re planning to sell your home, there are certain steps you should take to sell it quickly, and sell it for a price that you are seeking. Here are some key tips to increase your chances of achieving both.

Understand the true value of your home. Most folks try, but are unable to be objective in valuing their home. Owners are always ready to point out the good points of the home, but suffer a kind of blindness as to the negative aspects of the property. People naturally feel an emotional attachment to their long time abode and therefore tend to overvalue it. The key to learning the true market value of a property is by hiring a seasoned real estate broker who is experienced in your geographical area. He or she will search for comparable homes which have sold recently in your neighborhood to get a good idea of your home’s value. This time tested, scientific approach is always superior to the emotional one.
Potential buyers are turned off by clutter. Make the home neat and orderly before showing. Also, try to rid the home of too much personal stuff and memorabilia. While you may love your memories – other people don’t. Additionally, If you have a wallpaper (or anything else) that’s unusual, change it to something neutral and conventional. Remember it’s the buyer who gets priority now. Keep things generic and neutral.
Do the necessary repairs and improvements to get the highest offers. Yes, buyers like things that work. A fresh, neutral coat of paint throughout the home is a good start. Kitchen appliances should all be in working order. Bathroom fixtures in need of repair should be fixed or replaced. Be sure you are not missing any tiles on the walls or floors. Good lighting is very important - darkly lit homes can lead to dark moods among buyers. Lastly, nothing scares buyer more than a leaky or damaged roof (or other leaks from faucets, etc.). Buyers know these fixes are expensive. Remember, when selling, you are legally required to inform the buyer of any problem areas with the home, including the roof.
Your home’s exterior (curb appeal) is the first impression a buyer gets before actually entering the home – and first impressions are very important, as it sets the mood. So, clean the gutters, wash the siding, mow the lawn, prune the shrubbery, and remove weeds. If you have a fence, inspect it and make the necessary repairs. If you have a pool, have it cleaned. Clean the entrance (walkway to your property). Repaint the front door and get a new welcome mat if needed , fix any door squeaks (WD-40) – again, first impressions are paramount.
Eliminate odors. While you may not notice certain odors (from pets, for example), buyers will – and it can be a real turn-off. Therefore clean litter boxes, use an air freshener, clean-up pet hairs and pet beds. Better yet, ask a friend to take your pet to his home during showings. While you may love Rover, other people may not.
This may seem like common sense, but remember to give your home a thorough cleaning. This may include steaming carpets and upholstery.
Be sure your broker hires a professional photographer, so when potential buyers see the written listing, they will see beautiful photos that match the description.

To sum up: Hire a good broker with roots and experience in the community, use neutral colors when painting, clean the place thoroughly and make it very neat, eliminate odors, do the necessary internal and external repairs and painting, spruce up outdoor areas, and improve the lighting if necessary.

To my readers: Have a Merry Christmas, a happy Hanukkah, and a joyful, healthy, and prosperous new year.