8 Ways To Get Top Dollar When Selling Your Home
1. Curb Appeal. First impressions matter. Reel potential buyers in from the get-go with a neat and welcoming appearance. Mow the lawn, trim overgrown shrubs or get rid of them altogether, and plant new colorful flowers. The first look at your home should be an inviting one.
2. Paint. It's the biggest bang for your buck but be sure to choose neutral colors. You may love lavender but your buyer may not. You're going for a clean palette that your buyer can do anything with.
3. Tidy Up. Again, we're going for a clean palette. Clear the clutter and put away personal photos or collectibles. You want the buyer to envision their stuff in it, not see yours proudly on display. Clean windows to let maximum light in, pressure wash the exterior if you are not going to paint.
4. Get Rid of Odors. Smells, be it pet odors, food odors, something moldy or mildewy, trigger memory and emotion. It could be as easy doing a thorough cleaning or removing the old dog bed in the room. Instead of a heavy fragrance to mask odors, consider baking cookies before a showing.
5. Update Fixtures and Hardware. Everybody loves modern kitchens and bathrooms. If a complete remodel isn't in the cards for you, add a "bang" to those rooms with brand new faucets and pulls for drawers and cabinets. Bring your room into the 21st century without busting your budget.
6. Buy ONE New Kitchen Appliance. Yes, only ONE, if it's in your budget. Feature that in your photos. Buyers perusing online will see that modern, preferably stainless steel, appliance and automatically assume the rest of the kitchen is up-to-date. It could help seal the deal.
7. Price It Right. You've lived in your home for years, maybe you grew up there; you have an emotional attachment and great memories. While you place a high value on that, that doesn't translate into a higher price. Your buyer won't care about your memories. Your house is one of many on their shopping/browsing list. You may think your home is worth $10 million when it's worth only $250,000 (yes, I'm exaggerating but you get my point). Do your research on what similar homes in your neighborhood are selling for. Any realtor can run a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) for free. Every house will eventually sell. But would you prefer to sell yours within 30-60 days or 1-2 years?
8. Great Photos. Pay someone if you don't have a friend or family member who's good at it. Let's face it. Most of us do our shopping online before we actually see a thing in real life. Be aware of when your house looks its best in natural light. Photograph it during those times, even if you it takes you several hours or days.
