How To Make Your Home More Appealing To Buyers
Sellers - don't dispair! You can sell your home, and it's easier than it sounds! Buyers are looking for the perfect home, but there's more to a perfect home than simply tidying up. You can help make your home look perfect to sellers by following these five simple steps by Amanda S. Davidson of Alexandria, Virginia.
How To Make Your Home More Appealing To Buyers
It’s the time of year that I’m frequently meeting with homeowners who are considering selling this spring. Each meeting varies with questions that come up with the exception of one and that’s always what can I do to make my home more appealing to buyers? Every seller understandably wants to know how to make their home standout and make buyers want to make an offer.
There’s nothing I love more than when a seller takes the time to follow my advice doing the items that really make their home shine. Inventory is low in our area but, that doesn’t mean proper preparation isn’t imperative and the little details make a big difference. When your home makes the right first impression on buyers it will sell faster and for more money.
Donate and Purge
De-cluttering your home is something every seller has to do. You want your home to look spacious and organized; less is more. Buyers are easily distracted and having a bunch of items on your kitchen counters, bathroom vanities, in the shower, closet’s, under the bed and anywhere else you can think of that detracts from your home. Think about a model home as you go through each room in your house. You may even need to consider a storage unit – the garage and basement are not to be used for storage when selling your home. Every area needs to be ready to greet buyers and make the right first impression.
Keep It Neutral
Paint is the most common way to personalize a home but, when it comes time to sell personalized isn’t what you are going for. You want to appeal to as many buyers as possible and the best way to do that is neutral walls. Neutral doesn’t mean white, in fact you should stay away from white because it will make your home feel cold and uninviting. Stick to beige or gray tones.
It’s The Little Things
When I mentioned above that the little details make a big difference I am talking something as small as a loose doorknob or kitchen cabinet handle or even just a burned out lightbulb. Every home has minor items that can easily be corrected and those little items add up in the eyes of a buyer. Go through each room and look for imperfections, pretend you’re a buyer walking through your home.
Curb Appeal
Buyers see the exterior of your home first. I have a lot of buyer clients who drive by a home before contacting me for a tour. If they don’t like what they see from the exterior many never ask to see the interior. Pull the weeds, clean up any loose leaves, put some mulch down, and make sure the bushes don’t need trimming. Look at your front door, that’s where buyers are going to enter first. Does it need to be cleaned, painted, or replaced? Look at the gutters and roof to be sure they’re in show-ready shape as well. If you see shingles lifting or the gutters are loose have a qualified roofer in to repair them.
Select an agent with a proven successful track record and they will be able to go through your home with you and give you advice that’s custom to what your home needs. They have a trained eye on what to look for and recommend. Properly preparing your home to go on the market can’t be done overnight, it takes planning ahead and working closely with your agent. Allowing ample time to have your home show ready always pays off in the form of a faster sale for more money.
Additional Home Selling Information
Prepare Your Home For Sale On A Budget
Amanda Davidson
Amanda Davidson Real Estate Group
Broker - Owner
Licensed in VA and DC5680 King Centre Drive #600
Alexandria, VA 22315Cell: 703.431.3755
Fax: 703.562.7057
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