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10 Tips to Sell Your Home

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with EXIT Shore Realty
  1. The Price is Right - Find out what your home is worth, then shave 15 to 20 percent off the price. You’ll be stampeded by buyers with multiple bids — even in the worst markets — and they’ll bid up the price over what it’s worth.
  2. Closet Space- Storage is something every buyer is looking for and can never have enough of. Take half the stuff out of your closets then neatly organize what’s left in there. Buyers will snoop, so be sure to keep all your closets and cabinets clean and tidy.
  3. Brighten it Up - Maximize the light in your home. After location, good light is the one thing that every buyer cites that they want in a home. Take down the drapes, clean the windows, change the lampshades, increase the wattage of your light bulbs and cut the bushes outside to let in sunshine. Do what you have to do make your house bright and cheery – it will make it more sellable. 
  4. Play the Agent Field - A secret sale killer is hiring the wrong broker. Make sure you have a broker who is totally informed. They must constantly monitor the multiple listing service (MLS), know what properties are going on the market and know the comps in your neighborhood. Find a broker who embraces technology – a tech-savvy one has many tools to get your house sold.
  5. Conceal the Critters - You might think a cuddly dog would warm the hearts of potential buyers, but you’d be wrong. Not everybody is an animal lover and buyers don’t want to walk in your home and see a bowl full of dog food, smell the kitty litter box or have tufts of pet hair stuck to their clothes. It will give buyers the impression that your house is not clean.
  6. Don’t Over Upgrade the Home - Quick fixes before selling always pay off. Mammoth makeovers, not so much. You probably won’t get your money back if you do a huge improvement project before you put your house on the market. Instead, do updates that will pay off and get you top dollar. Get a new fresh coat of paint on the walls. Clean the curtains or go buy some inexpensive new ones. Replace door handles, cabinet hardware, make sure closet doors are on track, fix leaky faucets and clean the grout.
  7. Take the Home Out of Your House - One of the most important things to do when selling your house is to de-personalize it. The more personal stuff in your house, the less potential buyers can imagine themselves living there. Get rid of a third of your stuff – put it in storage. This includes family photos, memorabilia collections and personal keepsakes.
  8. The Kitchen Comes First - You’re not actually selling your house, you’re selling your kitchen because of how important it is. The benefits of remodeling your kitchen are endless, and the best part of it is that you’ll probably get 85% of your money back. It may be a few thousand dollars to replace countertops where a buyer may knock $10,000 off the asking price if your kitchen looks out dated. The fastest, most inexpensive kitchen updates include painting and new cabinet hardware. Use a neutral-color paint so you can present buyers with a blank canvas where they can start envisioning their own style. 
  9. Always Be Ready to Show - Your house needs to be "show-ready" at all times because you never know when your buyer is going to walk through the door. You have to be available whenever they want to come see the place and it has to be in tip-top shape. Don’t leave dishes in the sink, keep the dishwasher cleaned out, the bathrooms sparkling and make sure there are no dust bunnies in the corners.
  10. The First Impression is the Only Impression - No matter how good the interior of your home looks, buyers have already judged your home before they walk through the door. You never have a second chance to make a first impression. It’s important to make people feel warm, welcome and safe as they approach the house. Spruce up your home’s exterior with inexpensive shrubs and brightly colored flowers. You can typically get a 100-percent return on the money you put into your home’s curb appeal. Entryways are also important. You use it as a utility space for your coat and keys. But, when you’re selling, make it welcoming by putting in a small bench, a vase of fresh-cut flowers or even some cookies.

Bonus Tip: 

Have your home inspected by a certified home inspector. Knowing exactly what you are buying is probably the biggest hurdle to jump in a real estate transaction. Yet many people gloss over due diligence and end up regretting it. Consider a home inspection before you hand over cash to close. 


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John Wingate | Maryland Realtor

Salisbury Maryland Realtor   

  

Real Estate Home Network

John Wingate is a Maryland real estate agent with Exit Shore Realty in Salisbury, MD. John will be helpful with your real estate needs in Somerset County, Wicomico County and Worecester County, MD.

Comments (2)

Vince Chinell
VICO Home Inspection - Branson, MO
CPI

John,  A good one to add is have it inspected by certified home inspector.   Move in certified with a sign on the front lawn could sure help as well.

Dec 08, 2011 06:10 AM
John Wingate
EXIT Shore Realty - Salisbury, MD
Salisbury MD Real Estate, 302.339.5185, Salisbury, MD Homes

Fantastic point Vince!

I appreciate the input and the point brought to my attention. 

Dec 08, 2011 11:05 AM