Key Takeaways
- Focus on keeping the staging as clean and simple as possible. If it's going to be difficult keeping things cleaned up, move out. Clutter and mess won’t sell your home.
- The home inspection is a headache that you want out of the way as soon as possible. Take care of problems now. Don’t wait. You’ll thank yourself later.
- It might cost you, but what you save in the end makes hiring a professional agent more than worth it.
You’ve been thinking about selling your home. How hard can it be? You just clean the house, take some pictures and put them up online. That’s all it takes, right? Not quite, but you knew that. Here’s what you don’t know but should as a future homeseller.
1. Not everything needs upgrading
Door hinges, vent covers, cabinet knobs and light fixtures are good places to spend because they’re small fixes that make a big difference in appearance. Think about other small, easy upgrades you can make.
Focus on above-grade improvements over below-grade. Finishing that basement won’t make a difference.
If you’re not sure about where to put your money, stick to kitchens and bathrooms.
Also, don’t hide your house behind those ugly bushes. Fix the siding. Give your home a fresh coat of paint. Seal the driveway. Make a good first impression because you’ll never sell your home if you can’t get a buyer through the front door.
2. The appraiser won’t save you
If you think you can haggle with the appraiser, you’re in for a surprise.
No matter what you do, you might not get the valuation you’re looking for. The appraiser won’t budge from his or her final assessment and risk losing his or her license for being anything but impartial.
Do what you can to increase the value of your home, but don’t get hung up on it. Chances are, the number the appraiser gives you won’t be the one you were hoping for.
3. Home staging matters; move out — otherwise, declutter
It’s difficult to imagine yourself in a home made up for someone else. It might be your ideal style, but it probably isn’t anywhere close to the buyer’s taste.
Focus on keeping the staging as clean and simple as possible. If it’s going to be difficult keeping things cleaned up, move out. Clutter and mess won’t sell your home.
4. Your window of opportunity is smaller than you think
If you think you’re all caught up, you’re probably still behind.
Have a timeframe for the sale. Put it on the market at the right time — price it right, and your property is guaranteed to sell fast.
5. Planning needs to be done early, and stick to the plan once it’s made
Organize. Prioritize the things that will sell your home, and get them done.
You should also stay focused on the bottom line. Do what you need to do to sell your home for the most profit in the least amount of time.
6. Your listing needs to stay fresh, and don’t worry if it sits
Keep the listing as updated and relevant as possible, even if it seems tedious. It makes a difference, especially if your house has been on the market for a while. It’s only a matter of time before the right buyer comes along.
If you’ve updated your home, make sure your listing reflects those updates, and don’t be afraid to include the small things. So, dig deep! Think hard about how you can make your home that much more enticing to buyers.
7. Buyers can’t stand losing
No one wants to miss out on their dream home. When it comes to life-altering purchases, buyers will do anything to win. Give them that win.
What comments do your neighbors make about your home? They’ve probably mentioned something they liked or wished they had. Use this information to tailor your listing for the right buyer — the buyer who won’t stand to lose out on the perfect home.
8. Home inspections kill deals; take care of problems now
The home inspection is a headache that you want out of the way as soon as possible. Take care of problems now. Don’t wait. You’ll thank yourself later.
Are you worried about the cost of the inspection? Every home has problems. They’ll almost certainly find something worth the cost of looking, saving you time, money and stress.
9. Don’t worry if it gets to you
Selling your home takes months of work, even before you put it on the market. There are going to be times where you want to say, “forget it!” Those are the times where you need to take a step back, breathe deeply, and refocus.
One day, sooner than you think, the process will be over, and your home will be sold.
10. A professional can help
Many things that go into selling your home are impossible for someone to know without experience. The pros know the ins-and-outs of the real estate game and will make your life much easier, even if it costs more than you like. This is not a time to be penny-wise, pound foolish.
If you’re dead-set on going your own way, decide if the money saved is worth the time and effort that goes into selling your home.
It might cost you, but what you save in the end makes hiring a professional Realtor more than worth it.
