Home Sale Ideas



Most of us have read in the past few months that the housing market has “cooled” in many locations and that home sellers are waiting longer to get a buyer for the home they have for sale. We’ve also read that the aging baby boomers are realizing that fewer people are available to buy their homes when they are ready to make a change.

To begin with, we need to understand that homes are not necessarily losing their value, they are simply not gaining value as quickly as we have seen in past years. The last decade was not typical. The “normal” value increase is around 2-3% per year. With that in mind, correct pricing is critical. 

What are buyers looking for today?
Buyers want confidence, a good value and to know this home fits their lifestyle.

• To gain the buyers’ confidence it is a good idea to get a home inspection and fix anything that the inspection shows as a problem before you list the home for sale. By doing this, a buyer knows you have made the needed changes and has more assurance in the systems and condition of the home.  
   
• To show a good value when getting the home ready to show to buyers, the outside and inside of the home must sparkle and shine. Show buyers that this home is an inviting place to live. Outside, the curb appeal is important and a clean front door and sparkling windows make a good impression.  
   
• To make sure this home is comfortable for the buyer’s lifestyle the inside of the home should be de-cluttered and all areas cleaned. Personal items such as a wall of family pictures are better removed and stored. You want the buyers to see themselves in your home and that is easier done without a lot of personalized things displayed. 

Fresh paint is always a finishing touch for well used areas. Be sure to keep in mind that your favorite colors may not be the same as others. It’s safer to paint in a more neutral range of colors, remember buyers are looking for “light and bright” decor. If the carpet needs to be cleaned, get it done. If it is worn and tired looking, consider replacing it or offering buyers a carpet allowance to choose their own color and style.

Experts recommend that you interview 2 or 3 sales brokers and ask these questions before you decide who you want to list your home:

• Number of years he/she has worked in Real Estate
• Their sales history for the last 12 months
• Commission to be paid and how it will be split with the buyer’s broker
• References
• Marketing strategy for your home

Once your home is shown, ask your agent for feedback and listen to the comments that were made by people who came and looked at the home. You can learn a lot by hearing what they liked and disliked about the home and can be prepared to address any negatives that they saw. 

With the right condition, right price and the right person listing your home, you are more likely to get interest in the property and begin negotiating the sale quickly!

Here’s a step by step plan to get ready for a sale:

1. Disassociate yourself from your home. Look at it as a buyer will see it. You are selling a house…not living in a home. Look toward the future and don’t look back.
    
2. De-personalize your home. Remove personal photos and mementoes so that a buyer can visualize fitting into the space.
    
3. De-clutter by picking up all unnecessary items. Clean all countertops and leave only essentials in sight. Clean the refrigerator – buyers will look to get an idea of how clean you keep the house.
    
4. Clean closets and kitchen cabinets. Organize every storage space so that buyers easily see themselves settling into the home.
    
5. Remove any item(s) you want to take with you such as custom made draperies or a special light fixture. Let buyers see what they would actually get when they buy the house. When you tell buyers they can’t have something it sets a negative tone.
    
6. If needed, rent a storage unit for any excess furniture or items. Leave lots of room for people to move around.  
    
7. Make minor repairs throughout the home. Patch any holes in the walls and touch up with matching paint using a silk sponge (available at home improvement stores). Fix doors that don’t close well or squeak. Replace any burned out light bulbs – both inside and out. 
    
8. Make the house sparkle! Wash windows, polish faucets and re-caulk tubs, sinks and showers. Clean ceiling fan blades, light fixtures and light globes. Bleach dingy grout and replace any worn out rugs. Odors are a negative – make sure the house smells fresh. Be careful to not cook food that will leave strong odors in the home.
    
9. Scrutinize every area of your home. Stand at the curb and look at the front of the home. Stand on the porch and look at the threshold, door jam, door bell and all details that a buyer will notice. Move furniture around until it looks good and makes sense. 
    
10. Do a curb check. Make sure the walkways are clean, lawn is mowed, bushes are trimmed and the house number is visible. If there is any peeling paint or scuffed surfaces, be ready to paint and freshen.
     
11. Remember….Realtors don’t sell houses….Houses sell houses.
     
12. Don’t forget the rear view because buyers will do their best to see the back yard. Include it in your curb appeal efforts.
     
13. Evening curb appeal is important because oftentimes buyers will drive by houses at night. Turn light on across the front on the home every evening.  It warms the home up and makes it welcoming. 
     
14. Get rid of old and overgrown landscaping and plant some new landscaping with new mulch.