You want to sell your place, but you might not be sure where to start when it comes to listing your home and attracting potential buyers. Don’t just put the sign out on the front lawn and hope for the best. There are several ways to help make your place more appealing to prospective buyers — and many of these tips don’t take all that much work.
Make a Good First Impression With Curb Appeal
HGTV says that buyers will judge your home the moment they pull up to the curb, before they even walk through the front door. Make sure your front yard looks well taken care of by planting some flowers and shrubs, and cutting the grass. These measures can help ensure that a potential buyer’s first impression is a good one.
Keep the Interior Tidy
Your house should be show-ready at all times, suggests HGTV. Keep your bathrooms clean, make sure your kitchen sink and dishwasher are free of dirty dishes and vacuum daily. If you’re short on time, consider hiring a cleaning service to help make your place sparkle from top to bottom.
Stow Away Unnecessary Items
Take a weekend and store everything you don’t need while selling your home. If your home lacks extra storage space, consider renting a storage unit for items you can live without, such as small kitchen appliances and random knickknacks, until your home sells. HGTV also recommends packing away family portraits and other items that mark the house as “yours.” Potential buyers may have trouble imagining themselves living in the home if your personal photos and items are placed throughout.
Repair Household Imperfections
Consider hiring a handyman to fix any little problems in your house. From a slow drain in the bathroom sink to a few battered baseboards, a handyman can help bring your house back to its optimal condition. If your home needs larger repairs or upgrades before selling, consider talking to a contractor — and don’t forget to make sure the worker is reputable.
Enhance the Lighting in Your Home
Good light is something most buyers want in a home, according to HGTV. If you want your place to appear bright and airy, clean your lampshades, windows and drapes. Increasing light bulb wattage and trimming bushes and trees outside of the windows are other ways to let light in. If time is a factor, you could also consider hiring a professional to clean your windows.
Upload Attractive Photos to Your Online Listing
According to the National Association of Realtors, 51 percent of buyers found the home they purchased online. To help ensure you’re showing your home in its best light, take pictures at the right time. Wait for a sunny day to snap your interior photos — and don’t forget to open curtains and turn on lights to make the room look as bright as possible, says Realtor.com. For exterior shots, Zillow recommends including a bird’s-eye view photo to show off a large yard or other attractive outdoor features, such as a pond. Consider talking to your real estate agent about professional photographs as well to see if this is the right option for you.
Make Your Home’s List Price Competitive
Trulia recommends pricing your home competitively to attract more potential buyers. Listing your home too high may deter potential buyers, while listing it too low may have you leaving money on the table. Spend some time researching comparable homes in and around your neighborhood to gain a better understanding of similar home values. Finding a local real estate agent could be beneficial as they’re typically more familiar with your market and know what comparable homes have sold for, says Trulia.
Hold an Open House For Agents
Once you’ve listed your home, holding an open house for real estate agents can be a great way to market your property, says Realtor.com. This gives agents a chance to walk through your home and see if it would be a potential fit for any of their clients. Realtor.com also states that free lunch is a great incentive to help attract agents to the event.
Keep in mind that these tips aren’t a replacement for hiring a real estate agent — they are meant to enhance the work of the real estate professional who ultimately helps you find a buyer. This article can help you ensure that you’re working with the right agent and getting the appropriate help you need.
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