Home > Blogs > Ron Tarvin > Katy Texas Real Estate Professional's random market thoughts

How to Make your Home Stand Out On the Market (Houston Texas and surrounding areas!)

By Ron Tarvin

Real Estate Agent with Residential, Investment properties, rehab projects, property management, luxury homes, new construction!

January 27, 2011 10:09 AM

Little things can make the difference when selling your home in the Houston area or any market for that matter.

So what little, inexpensive things might make the difference in getting that offer and not?

Tour the outside of the home. Pick up anything that is littering or cluttering the yard. Even things like a lawn chair sitting in the wrong place can detract from the appeal. Look at the yard as though you were pulling up, looking to buy a home.

Add a few flowers...especially here in the Houston area where our winters are not overly harsh, seasonal color can be a BIG advantage to feeling like home to a perspective buyer!

Are the gutters clean and properly attached? If gutters are full of pine needles (a big issue around Houston) or other runoff debris OR if they are not attached securely, that can be a detraction from the appeal and speak to the potential buyer of "NEEDS WORK".

Touch up paint where necessary. It can make a huge impact!

Are the trees and shrubs trimmed and looking "work free"? If they look like they need attention, that says to the potential buyer "NEEDS WORK"...once again, home buyers do NOT want to think about work when buying a home. The home buyer that is thinking about work to be done is the buyer looking to get a deal because you DIDN'T do the work!

Purple and Yellow Pansies

On the inside, we're often warned to put away the "personal pictures" by every real estate show on TV but I rarely hear them mention the "S" word---SMELL. If your home has overpowering odors (either good OR bad), it can instantly kill a buyer's interest. My wife in particular has the most senstive nose that I've ever seen and smell is everything to her. As a former CHEMIST, my sense of smell isn't as keen but who's opinon on smell do you think we go on? If your home smells clean and neutral, that is best. Even strong deodorants, such as air freshner or things like Glade Plug-ins may be too strong an odor, even though they are pleasing to smell.
If you have smoked in the home, consider having the curtains and carpet cleaned, the walls painted and smoke outside until the home sells...remember your ultimate goal is to get SOLD!
Natural light is king when it comes to showing off your home...I know it's a pain, but it isn't expensive---WASH THE WINDOWS!
Minor settling cracks that are not indicative of structural damage can be repaired and painted and take one less question out of the buyer's mind: Remember, the buyer doesn't want to think "NEEDS WORK" unless they are also looking to hit upon a deal.
Consider a storage facility if you have a lot of furniture or even boxes that you are preparing to move. A storage building can be had for a couple of hundred dollars for 6 months if need be but can make your home look a lot larger than your competition if you remove unneeded furniture, boxes ...
To go along with the storage facility above, consider storing your offseason clothes off site from your home to make the closets appear as BIG as they can. Buyers want to see SPACE so they can picture their things in place of yours...the less they have to think around YOUR stuff will help them to see their stuff in your former house!

There are many things to make your home show off and don't necessarily cost as much as you might think! Things such as professional staging, landscape staging and other things, but these few items will put you ahead of the competition and cost very little!

If you are thinking of Selling your home in the Houston Area, please call me. As a Real Estate Broker and listing specialist, I can help you get your home sold!

Katy Real Estate

Ron Tarvin, Broker
katyagent@gmail.com
(281) 935-7152 Direct or Text
Honesty, Integrity....Top Internet Presence
99% sell rate, 98% of list price & 32 Days faster than MLS average

Call us now if you are looking to buy or sell a home in the West Houston, Katy and Cypress area!

Toll Free information line (anytime):

Call (877)472-5390 and use the code to hear about the topic:

Short Sale Information Code: 7002
$5000 Buyer Guarantee, Code: 7004

List of our service guarantees: 7003