The market has changed. how many times have you heard that? Well for sellers it's a thorn is the side. Houses are staying on the market longer and inventory is way up. The competition is strong. What can you do to differentiate your home from all the others on the market? Set the stage. Staging is very important in today's market. Every home has a few things that can be improved before entering the market. Maybe it's painting, or sprucing up your landscaping, or fixing that leaky faucet. These improvements may seem unecessary but when it's time to sell a buyer won't think so. The appearance of your home can be the difference between a quick sell or months on the market.
When selling a home the owner should appeal to the emotions of the potential buyer. An emotional buyer is a high paying buyer. An emotional buyer bases thier decisions on feeling rather than price. You want that buyer to say when they first walk through the door "This is the one".
First give yourself at least 30 days before putting the sign in the yard to set the stage. You can then proceed with a plan. Make a list of repairs and a list of upgrades. Repairs will do liitle to add to the price of the home but make a huge difference in how long your home is on the market. Next...De-clutter! Rent a storage unit if you have to but clear it out. Too much stuff can hide the houses true beauty. This is where less is more. Clear out excess furniture, remove family photos, and excess knick knacks. This is where a professional home stager. Major repairs may be changing those green or purple walls to a more neutral color. Neutral colors allows the buyer to envision their decorating touches. Giving the whole house a complete paint job is something that will go far in selling your home. New carpeting is another thing to consider. if you do not have pets or small children that could stain it before settlement I would recommend replacing old or worn carpets. Otherwise you will either have to reduce the price or offer a carpet allowance for the buyer.
Don't forget the exterior, first impressions. No matter how great the inside looks if the outside looks horrible. Begin with the house itself. Does the trim need painting, window caulked, possible a new roof? Once you address these problems turn your attention to the landscaping. Trim dead branches from trees, trim and shape shrubs and hedges, weed the mulch beds, even add a few flowers for color. Again the same is true for the outside..less is more. Gardens should not be overgrown and crowded with foliage. Make sure grass is cut regularly and that the walkways are clear of debris.
Now for upgrades. Upgrades can add to the selling price. Two places to consider are the kitchen and the bathroom. First the kitchen. If your kitchen is outdated bring it into the future. Consider new counter-tops(granite) cabinets and appliances(stainless steel). As for the bathroom, consider new cabinets, floors and tiles.
When you decide to sell your home you will have to also decide whether major upgrades are necessary. You may only need to concentrate on repairs. You can also consider selling you home "as is" which requires no effort to repair or upgrade. But when choosing this you are going to loose the emotional buyers and price will become the major deciding factor for a buyer. This results in a much lower selling price for your home. To sell for top dollar you need to touch people's emotions.
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