Tips on Preparing to Sell Your Own Home

PRICE, PRICE, and PRICE – The most critical issue in selling your home is having it priced correctly.  Getting the pricing right is the most important decision in selling your home.  There are certain steps you can take to help you determine a realistic price based on current market conditions.

  • Consider having an expert do a formal market analysis / home appraisal.  This is one of the best objective assessments of your home’s value.  An expert should consider all the home’s special features in determining a fair market value.
  • Educate yourself on the selling prices (versus asking price) of similar homes in your area.  Go to open houses and look at the local newspaper to see how other homes are currently being priced.  Compare the number of bathrooms, kitchen upgrades, total finished square feet and other special features of your home against other homes listed with similar features.
  • Consider hiring a professional inspector to inspect your home for any unknown structural defects that will affect the safety or health of a buyer.  Remedy any significant issues prior to listing your home and save the embarrassment of having a potential buyer walk away because of a defect an inspector will find.
  • Determine the lowest selling price you would accept and the highest price you believe you could list it for and then determine your pricing strategy.   Don’t be afraid to adjust your selling price if your home does not sell in a reasonable amount of time.

CREATE A GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION:
In today’s competitive market, having your home create a great first impression gives you an advantage.  Here are some suggestions on how to stage your home to appeal to potential buyers:

Their first impression begins when the potential buyer drives up to your home.  Make sure it is a good emotional experience.  Most buyers are smitten or turned off within three minutes of their first introduction to your home.

  • Keep the grass cut in the summer months. Have attractive pots of flowers on decks and front entries.   Trim bushes away from windows and sidewalk.  Don’t let overgrown bushes obscure the view of your home.  In the winter, make sure steps and sidewalks are free from ice and snow.
  • Make sure your front door looks terrific.  The front can either attract or repel potential buyers.  Repair or replace faulty front door locks.
  • Neutralize the interior of your home.  You may really like bright, vibrant colors or patterned wallpaper; however, not everyone will feel the same.  Make it easy for a buyer to envision moving into the home without having to do any work. 
  • CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN.   Almost as important as price, having a clean, clutter free home will improve the chances of selling your home quickly.  Wash or paint the walls with a neutral color.  Shampoo carpets and wash all hard surfaced floors.  Wash windows and replace burnt out light bulbs. Clean out closets to make them appear larger and get rid (or organize) the stuff on closet shelves.  Put away all family pictures and mementos of past trips or children’s sporting events. You want the buyers to think of the home as their home – not your home. 
  • Arrange furniture and/or perhaps store excessive furniture to make the rooms look larger.  
  • Turn on all lights and open all drapes/curtains when having a home showing. Most buyers want to see a bright, cheery home.
  • Get rid of pet equipment and odor.  Keep pets outside or otherwise contained while showing a home - - you may love your cat or dog, but the potential buyer may be allergic to your pet.

OTHER TIPS:

  • Don’t talk excessively during a showing.  You may be nervous or anxious to have the potential buyer know the history of your house, but let them talk.  Point out special features and advantages and then let them imagine the home as their own – not as your home.
  • Answer all questions truthfully, but do not volunteer unpleasant aspects of the home or area.  For instance, there is no need to tell a potential buyer about the neighbor who plays loud music on the summer evenings just as you are trying to have dinner on your patio; or the fact that you think the freeway noise is too loud, or maybe you don’t like an east facing bedroom.   Keep personal opinions and thoughts out of the discussion. 
  • Read the article on controlling the showing of your home.