Selling a home is not always easy. The property market has picked up in recent years, but there is never any guarantee that a home will be snapped up the moment the ‘for sale’ sign goes up. In the worst-case scenario, it could even be up for sale for months, which is never a good thing. Luckily, there are ways to ensure your home sells super quick – even in a depressed market.
Price to Sell
It doesn’t matter how much time and effort you put into styling a home to sell if it is overpriced compared to similar properties in the neighborhood. Buyers always want a bargain and don’t like to think they are paying too much. Check out some new real estate agent advice to help you come to a decision. Sometimes it can help to see your home in the same way a real estate agent does, as it will give you a better idea of pricing and what you need to do to increase this. A home is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it, so always bear that in mind when deciding on a selling price.
Put the Welcome Mat Out
Curb appeal is very important. It’s extremely off-putting if a home is scruffy, unkempt and unloved. It might be wonderful inside, but a lot of potential buyers will walk away before they even set foot inside.
To boost curb appeal, tidy up the front garden, hang flowering baskets and make sure your windows and front door are nice and clean. The entrance area of your home also needs to be welcoming. Put some fresh flowers in a vase so visitors are greeted with a beautiful scent. Alternatively, use scented candles to achieve the same effect. If you don’t have a porch light, have one installed. A dark entrance area is hardly very inviting for any buyers who show up in the evening.
Fresh and Bright
Once indoors, create the right impression with fresh, clean and light colors. The main living areas will benefit from a fresh coat of paint to cover up scuffs and marks on walls and skirting boards. Pale, neutral colors work well, but if you can’t bear the idea of living in a magnolia home, introduce accent color in the form of blinds, curtains, scatter rugs, artwork and cushions.
De-clutter Your Home
As any home stager will tell you, clutter is seriously bad news. No buyer wants to see decade’s worth of books, CDs, knick-knacks and general detritus scattered on every available surface. Clutter makes rooms appear smaller and that is the last impression you want to make.
Have a sort out and sell, give away or discard junk you don’t need. Anything else you don’t need on an everyday basis can be packed in preparation for the move. Just leave out a few attractive ornaments, plus some personal items and books to offer a glimpse of your personal style. This presents a snapshot of your life for buyers to covet.
Homes need to be lived in, but they also need to be spotlessly clean. Think like a buyer and show off smaller rooms to their best advantage. Don’t forget to stage the outdoors, too!
