20 “Tricks” To Selling Your Home

Selling your home truly comes down to 2 factors- Price and Condition.  The condition of the home is up to you- the owner. If you are a motivated seller and would like more money in your pocket when you sell- then here are tricks to get you that money!

1. Make room. Clear out as much furniture as you can. Put it in storage, give it to Goodwill or have a garage sale. 

2. Use counter intelligence. Go through the house and clear off all the horizontal surfaces like kitchen and bathroom countertops. Old magazines? Toss ‘em. Knick-knacks? Pack ‘em. Counters need to be clear and clean.

3. Follow your nose. A home should smell good. That means no noticeable odor — no pet scent, no stale cooking smells and no cigarette smoke. DO NOT light candles or use air fresheners- it only makes buyers feel as though you are hiding something. If you have pets, smoke etc- buyer a deodorizer. They are less then $15 and will make a difference!

4. Remember, the next buyer is as lazy as you are. If the property needs work — dated wallpaper, ratty carpet — have it replaced now to remove any negative issues. Do not give them a reason not to buy it.

5. Do the baby test. Does your potential market include families with young kids? If so, ask yourself, “Would I put my child down on this floor to crawl around the room?”

6. Get rid of the cigarettes. Having a smoker in the house also eliminates a lot of potential buyers. Many shoppers won’t even want to tour a home if the owner is a smoker. So do whatever is necessary to remove that smell!

7. Make your home ageless. There’s a difference between an old house and a classic home. Keep everything fresh and up-to-date. It sends a message to the buyer that the home has been well maintained.

8. Let there be light. People buy space and light, for the most part, Open all blinds and turn on lights. Add lights to rooms that are dark.

9. Get a home inspection. Most buyers will have one done anyway but do it before putting your home on the market. Make any needed repairs.  This may eliminate the buyer canceling or asking for a price reduction later on.

10. Learn to love light neutral walls. When it comes to walls, color is popular. The problem is that the next buyer might not like the same colors. Paint is a relatively inexpensive way to make a house look clean and fresh. And if you’re going to repaint prior to selling, stick with neutrals.

11. Take a close look at the carpet. Get the carpet shampooed to get out any stains or smells. If that doesn’t work, replace it.

12. Avoid controversy. If you have a deer head on the wall, you might want to take it down. It will be a turnoff to some buyers.

13. Replace deteriorating wallpaper. If wallpaper is peeling — especially in bathrooms — remove it and consider replacing it with a coat of paint. Go with a neutral or match the tile.

14. Clean your closets. Empty the closets of half the things you have in them. Partially empty closets look roomy — and space sells. Do the same thing with kitchen cabinets.

15. Harness flower power. It gives the home a softer, nicer feel.

16. Take everyone’s advice with a grain of salt. Your home will not appeal to everyone and that is ok.

17. Keep it clean. No dust, cobwebs or trash. People looking to buy a home are extremely observant and meticulous. This means outside too- especially by the front door. When the agent is retrieving the keys from the lock box, the buyer is looking over the front of the home.

18. Get ride of the evidence of pets. I am a pet lover but when it comes to selling your home, your home cannot smell like animals. When people come to look, put the bowls, toys and pet beds away.

19. Set your house apart. You need to give the home a hook, Something that makes it different in a positive way from the other houses. For example, bright yellow flowers in the front yard.

20. Make your home available. When you make the home easily accessible to agents and buyers you will get interest and viewings in the home. By adding too many restrictions, it will defer agents from showing the home because it may be too much hassle. 

I would love to discuss this with you further and walk through your home, the way I feel a buyer would see it.  I offer staging tips and marketing strategies that have proven time and time again that work to get your home sold. Please call me directly at 480-229-5861 or email me at Laurel@LaurelNielson.com. Also, please visitwww.LaurelNielson.com.