Selling a home may seem like a simple, straightforward process, and, for the most part, you’d be correct. However, some strategy is necessary to maximize the amount of money you make.
This will likely be the biggest payday of your life so far, and you want to make it count. Here are a couple of things you need to know to maximize your profits and simplify the home selling process.
Price Matters
Your list price either generates interest or scares people away. Pricing your home right can be the difference between selling your home in a matter of days or having it sit on the market for months. According to the National Association of Realtors, 90% of home buyers use the internet to search for homes. The first thing they notice is the price, so if your house is priced too high, the buyer will continue to scroll by and never make an appointment to see your home in person. This is not helpful because statistically, the more people you see in your house, the more likely you will receive an offer.
To price your home correctly, you will need to realistically compare your home to other homes currently on the market and those that have recently sold. Here are some areas to compare:
- Square footage
- Number of bedrooms
- Number of bathrooms
- Garage or covered parking spaces
- Property type (single-family home, condo, etc.)
- Additional amenities (pool, single-level, etc.)
After comparing multiple properties either listed for sale or recently sold, you can decide on a listing price and look forward to getting a quick sale on your home.
How to Prepare Your Home
Once you commit to selling your house, you need to get your home is in tip-top shape. This does not mean putting a lot of time and money into renovation work. Instead, it would be best if you worked with what you have.
Ensuring your house is spotless, and clutter-free can help it sell more quickly and for a higher price. You should also declutter as much as you possibly can. Packing away knick-knacks, picture frames, valuable items, and clothes that are not in season will help you clear up a lot of space, making your home look more spacious and organized.
One area you may want to invest a little bit of money in is your yard. Planting some fresh, seasonal plants will bring life to your yard and make your home more inviting. Pull all weeds, trim trees and bushes, and mow the lawn. A potential home buyer does not need to be reminded that having a beautifully landscaped yard requires work, and having it look its best will help in that area.
It is also a good idea to make the little repairs you have been putting off. A leaky faucet or burnt-out light bulbs may not be a big deal to you, but buyers may be put off by them and jump to conclude that you have not taken care of the home properly.
Listing Photos Make A Huge Difference
Most real estate agents already include professional photos in their marketing plan. If yours doesn’t, you need to insist that they are taken. Most home buyers are searching for homes online, and the photos you put up on your listing are extremely important. Professional real estate photographers know how to take pictures that capture the home in the best way possible. They know where to stand to make a room look true to size while highlighting its best features. Their photos are not deceptive. Instead, they highlight the best parts of the home that will draw buyers in for a look.
Your Home Needs To Be Available To Show All The Time
Showing your house is arguably the worst part of selling your home. You would be amazed at how many different work schedules people have, making the availability to look at homes really unpredictable. Not everyone has the same work schedule you do, so while you’re away, they may have availability to come to take a look at your house.
While you should try t do whatever you can to accommodate showing requests, there is nothing wrong with setting boundaries. Not allowing shows after a particular time on weekdays is perfectly fine, and for safety reasons, you should always require that the potential buyer’s real estate agent is present at showings. Overall, your house needs to be available, and you will need to figure out a way to put away pets and keep the house cleaned up at all times.
Your Real Estate Agent Is There To Guide You
Hiring the right real estate agent is essential to having a great home selling experience. They will be able to guide you through all of the above mentioned activities, working closely with you to make sure your house sells quickly and for the highest amount of money possible.
If you’re ready to put your house on the market, give me a call to get the process started. We can determine a pricing and marketing strategy together and get everything ready for your home to hit the market.