March 9, 2022
SELL YOUR HOME FOR TOP DOLLAR! STEPS TO FOLLOW….
We all like to think our home is the best one in the neighborhood and we can get the highest price out there. To improve your chances of succeeding in this, here are some steps to follow:
1. Clean up.
Although it can be time-consuming, make sure your home is clean and tidy at all times. Potential buyers can pop up at a moment’s notice so you want to make sure your home is presentable. Get rid of the dust bunnies, wipe the dirty fingerprints off the walls and vacuum the floors. Make sure the bathrooms are spotless as this can turn off a buyer in an instant. If you have pets, deodorize the house and consider having the carpets professionally cleaned. This small expense goes a long way to show you care for the home and reduces the pet odors that may linger in the home.
2. De-clutter and de-personalize.
Organize the kid’s toys into a confined space instead of all over the house. Put away most of the family pictures. You want buyers to visualize themselves in the home so putting away personal items allows them to see the home as a place they can put down roots. You’re going to be moving anyway, so pack away some of the family heirlooms and mementos ahead of time. Your home will look less cluttered and more spacious.
3. Make repairs.
We all bang up a wall on occasion. Patch the drywall, if necessary, and touch up any paint spots that are obvious. If something is broken, fix it. You don’t want a faulty closet door falling off when someone opens it and you don’t want someone tripping over a loose threshold. If you are in the middle of a repair or are updating something, let your real estate professional know so they can pass the information on to potential buyers.
4. Curb appeal.
The first thing people see when they come to view the property is the front yard and the front of the house. Make sure the grass is cut, the flower beds are weeded and tidy and the sidewalk is clean and free of clutter. Clean the exterior of the home and make sure the windows sparkle. If it’s winter, make sure you have cleared any snow and ice from the walkways around the house and put down salt or ice-melter if needed.
5.Tidy the garage.
If, like a lot of people, your garage is more for storage than for parking your vehicles, make sure you keep it clean and organized. Put away as much as you can so people can at least walk through it to get an idea of the size. It’s hard to determine if a vehicle can fit into a garage that is overflowing with tools, equipment, boxes, and storage containers, so at a minimum, make sure there is a clear pathway through it all.
Your chances of finding a great buyer will improve if you follow these tips. Your home doesn’t have to be the most modern one on the block, but if you keep it clean and organized, the pride you have in the home will shine through and buyers will be more likely to make an offer for top dollar!