It’s easier than ever to imagine yourself living in a new home, thanks to photo-heavy Internet real estate sites. In fact, you may have already decided how you’ll arrange your furniture in a home’s family room, or how you’ll transform the master bedroom suite into the ultimate sanctuary. If you’re thinking of buying a new house, just one thing probably stands in your way: the sale of your current home. These six tips just may help you sell your home a little faster than you anticipated.
No matter how long you’ve lived in your home, it’s always a good idea to deep clean it before placing it on the market. You may not notice the scuff marks on the baseboards or the dust on the ceiling fan anymore, but buyers certainly will.
Although a little dust or dirt doesn’t affect the quality of your home, it may make buyers worry that you may have neglected more serious home maintenance issues. Whether you plan to clean your home yourself or hire a professional, a thorough pre-sale cleaning is essential. Cleaning not only removes dust, dirt, debris, handprints and scuff marks from surfaces, but also helps your home smell fresher.
As part of the cleaning process, eliminate clutter from every room in your home. Prospective buyers may not be able imagine themselves living in your home if your belongings are prominently on display.
These tips can help you declutter your home:
After living in your current home for years or decades, it’s easy to overlook areas that are damaged or a little worn. Unfortunately, prospective buyers will notice chipped paint, worn carpeting or gouges or small holes in walls or floors. Spending a little time and money repainting, replacing and fixing damaged or worn areas of your home is a simple way to make it attractive to potential buyers.
Defects may be easier to spot if you pretend you’re a buyer when you evaluate your home. If you don’t think you’ll be able to spot all the little problems, ask a friend to point out issues that may concern buyers.
Did your mom ever tell you not to worry about what other people were doing? She may have been right about most situations but not about selling your home. Before you put your home on the market, view listings of comparable houses in your area or visit open houses.
Do your competitors’ homes feature stainless steel appliances and hardwood floors? It may be a good idea to update your appliances, even if they work perfectly fine, or remove the carpeting to reveal your own hardwood floors. Making a few changes will help ensure that your house shows just as well as neighboring homes.
No one likes to leave money on the table when selling a home, especially if they’re using the proceeds of the sale to purchase a new home. Unfortunately, if your home is priced too high, you may wait a long time for an offer. If your home is still for sale a month or more after you list it, buyers may assume that there’s a problem with it, according to Trulia. It’s best to heed your real estate agent’s advice and price your home realistically.
You’ve probably eliminated a few homes from your search list simply because you didn’t like the way they looked from the street. Buyers may feel the same way about your home if the curb appeal of your home is lacking. Trimming or adding shrubbery, weeding flower beds, replacing worn or damaged walkways, cleaning windows and painting your home (if needed) will make your property look much more inviting.
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The Spruce: How to Declutter Your Home, Room by Room
https://www.thespruce.com/decluttering-your-entire-home-2648002
Trulia: 8 Reasons NOT to Test the Market with Your Asking Price
https://www.trulia.com/blog/8-reasons-not-to-test-the-market-with-your-asking-price/