Sell Your Home Quickly or NOT (You Decide): The Top 3 Things To Do Before You Call A Realtor by Leander McClain, Realtor

Sell Your Home Quickly or NOT (You Decide): The Top 3 Things To Do Before You Call A Realtor

by Leander McClain, Realtor

You have decided to sell your home.  Congratulations.  You have made one of the biggest decisions in your life.  However, before you call a Realtor to list your home for sale, there are several things that you need to consider

According to CAMILLA McLAUGHLIN "Getting your home ready for sale can take anywhere from one to six months, depending on the condition, age of the house and how long you've lived there."

1) The number one thing to consider is:

CLUTTER EATS EQUITY. 

I tell my clients to act as if they have already sold their home and are packing to move to their new place.  Consider throwing away the items you are not going to move. Give aways the "stuff" you are going to give away.  Hold a yard sale.  Call a charitible organization to haul away your good used items (consult your CPA about writing this off on your taxes).

As the seller, you are thinking that you will leave the house empty and the buyer will not have to deal with your stuff".  The buyer unconsciously thinks that they will have to deal with your stuff.  My guideline is that 50% of the "stuff" in your home needs to be removed before you list it for sale.  Consider renting a storage unit.  I have rented several for under $100/month.  Most places will give you the first month free.  Remember, the goal is to sell your house quickly and for the most money.  If spending a few hundred bucks on a storage unit helps to get that done, then why not??

 2) A Can of Paint Is Worth It's Weight In Gold

I can not stress the importance of a freshly painted, neutral color home.  Yes, you may have done a wonderful job painting a forest theme in one of your bedrooms.  However, buyers have limited imagination when they are looking at homes.  In todays market, there are plenty of homes to look at.  You want  your home to be

Neat, Clean & Neutral

You want potential buyers to imagine themselves living in your home.  If your home is painted to your specific tase, they cannot imagine what it would look like if painted another color. 

While you are painting, take a minute to spruce up the main entrance to your house.  I can't count the number of times I have stood on a front porch amid peeling paint on the door trim & railings.  Potential buyers are looking at this while their Realtor is opening the lock box.  A $15 can of paint and a couple of hours of your time can help give your home a good first impression with home buyers.

3.  Cleanliness is Next To Godliness

 A dirty house will cost YOU MONEY.  Let me say that again.....A dirty house will cost you MONEY!!!!

If your house is not white glove, curb to closet, gutter to garage clean, it will have an affect on what your house will sell for. Buyers do not like offensive odors, cobwebs, dust, dirt, dirty dishes, dirty clothes, trash, litter boxes, smelly pets, cigarette/cigar smoke, etc. 

Consider hiring a cleaning crew to do a thorough deep cleaning of your home.....and then keep it that way.  I once had a crew clean my home and it took them 10 hours.  Now I know that my home was pretty clean.  You may ask what did they do for 10 hours.  They cleaned everything from the light bulbs (yes they unscrewed each one) to the window sills.  Trust me when I tell you, my house smelled much different when they left.

BUYERS LOVE A CLEAN HOME

So let's sum up my top three rules

1.  Make your home cluter free

2.  Freshly painted with neutral colors

3. Clean, Clean & Clean

If you are looking to sell your Central/South NJ home, give me a call today.  My years of experience has given me many tips and tricks to get your home SOLD quickly.  Ask me how I sold a home in less than 30 days in a neighborhood where not a single home had sold in the past year........oh yeah, this was also during a declining market.

Have another great day and make This Your Best Year Ever

Your Friend In The Real Estate Business

Leander McClain, Cecil & Harford County. Realtor & Real Estate Consultant, Integrity Real Estate, 121 South Main Street, Northeast, MD 21901 443-406-6778 (direct)

@leemack912, www.facebook.com/Leander.NJRealtor

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