Seller Tips
Sally Morris at Lake Greenwood Realty
Specializing in Lake Greenwood
When you are ready to sell your home there are some very important things you will need to do to ensure that you will get the fastest sale at the highest price possible. Some things are optional but others are a must do.
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You Must let go think of it as your home anymore, it is a house that you are occupying until the new owner takes possession of it. What that means to you is that you must depersonalize it before you put it on the market. You might as well start packing, you are moving. You can live without family pictures, excess decorative items, collectables ( buyers don't want to buy them so pack them) anything that is not necessary needs to be packed away until you move.
You Must clean clean and clean some more. prospective buyers are not going to look over things that we might be fine with.
On the outside
1) Sweep front walkway.
2) Remove newspapers, bikes and toys.
3) Park extra cars away from the property.
4) Trim back the shrubs.
5) Apply fresh, clean paint throughout.
6) Clean windows and window coverings throughout.
7) Keep plumbing and all appliances in working order.
8) Maintain all sealant (window, tub, shower, sink, etc.) in good
condition.
9) Make sure roof and gutters are clean and in good condition.
10) Mow the lawn frequently and plant flowers.
11) Keep pet areas clean.
On the inside
1) The kitchen and bathroom should shine.
2) Quick once-over with the vacuum; carpets should be clean.
3) Place fresh flowers in the main rooms.
4) Put dishes away, unless setting a formal display for decoration.
5) Make all beds and put all clothes away.
6) Open the drapes and turn on lights for a brighter feel.
7) Straighten closets.
8) Put toys away.
9) Turn off television.
10) Play soft music on the radio/stereo.
11) Keep pets out of the way and pet areas clean and odor-free.
12) Secure jewelry, cash, prescription medication and other valuables.
13) Enhance the spaciousness of each room.
You Must make repairs to known problems and you might even think of having a home inspection yourself and addressing things before they show up on the buyers home inspection. More contracts hav efallen through due to repair issues than for any other reason. It is well worth the money to know what you are facing and then you can at least be prepared and hav ean opportunity to make the repairs on your terms.Your do it yourself brother in law will not be acceptable to a buyer but he may be just fine as far as you are concerned. For a small fee the inspector will come back after the repairs are done and document that they were done and done properly. I have seen the occaison where a buyer will accept your inspection especially if a licensed home inspector did the inspection and put his name on the line that they were done properly.
You Must price your home according to what the market says buyers are willing to pay for homes similar to yours in similar neighborhoods,with similar amenities. You may not recoup the money you spent on all improvements you have done if you have over improved you'll have to take as payment the enjoyment you got from those things choose the right When working with a real estate agent, it's critical that you have full confidence in that agent's experience and education. A skilled, knowledgeable agent should be able to explain to you exactly why your home needs to be priced at a certain level - compared to recent listings and sales of homes similar to yours.
You Should Pick an experienced agent that you feel comfortable with and trust their judgement Experienced agents also know exactly what the current pool of buyers are looking for in relation to particular styles and price ranges of properties. A skilled agent can recommend changes that will enhance the salability of your home, thus increasing the price - and/or decreasing the length of time before a sale.
You Might consider doing some easy inexpensive staging tricks that have been tried and proven to appeal to the majority of buyers. I have 50 Staging Tips I would like to send to you. Fill out the short form and I'll be happy to send them right out to you