PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR SALE
Remember, we only have one chance to make a good first impression with potential buyers. Here are some suggestions on how to prepare your home for sale:
- Tidy up the grounds, porches & garage.
- Keep lawn trimmed and edged.
- Be sure front door is scrubbed and repainted if necessary.
- Dress up windows - wash windows and clean/dust window coverings.
- If any decorating is needed - do it now! Kitchens and bathrooms should sparkle.
- Keep all steps clear of hazards.
- Fill all light sockets with bulbs. Illumination is like a welcome sign.
- Wash dishes, put away clothes, straighten up living areas.
- Make up beds with attractive spreads.
- Keep pets out of the way when showing.
- Avoid having too many people present during showings. The potential buyer may feel like an intruder and will hurry through the house.
- Leave the showing to the salesperson. (Leave the property if possible)
- Don’t discuss anything concerning the sale with a potential customer. Let your Realtor discuss price, terms, possession and other factors concerning your sale.
- Never apologize for appearance.
- Pack valuables now, store extra furniture and knick-knacks.
- Look at your property objectively. Pretend you’re seeing it for the first time, through a buyer’s eyes.
SELLING STRATEGIES
Today’s market is fast paced. Most activity happens within the first three weeks. Any listing that has not sold in 30 days should be reassessed. Every day the house stays on the market costs you, the seller, money because purchasers will offer below asking price on shop-worn listings. Among the most important factors that influence salability are:
CONDITION
Have you followed all of your agent’s advice with regard to staging? A change in seasons may reveal additional work that needs to be done around the property, such as:
- Wash all windows, inside and outside
- Pressure spray walks and roof if appropriate
- Fertilize lawn, trim shrubs and weed flower beds
- Touch up or repaint interior and exterior
- Store overflow from garage and closets in mini storage
- Increase wattage on interior lights, and leave on during showings
PRICING
- Review all comparable sales since the listing date. Have other, better properties come on the market and sold since your listing was taken? If so, there will be no support for your current price when the appraiser does his work.
- Be certain that you are shown new competitive properties that are listed.
- Receive an updated competitive market analysis (CMA) and include photos of homes recently sold.
ACCESSIBILITY
- Review with your agent and all family members the appropriate cooperation and flexibility with regard to showings.
- If you are not using a key box, be certain that your agent has good support systems in place to get keys to agents interested in a showing.
SALES ACTIVITY
If you find that competitively priced homes are selling instead of yours, you may want to reassess your strategies:
- Find out from your agent some details about the properties purchasers bought instead of yours.
- Why did the purchaser believe the other property was superior?
- Make the adjustments necessary to compete.
