Price the House Realistically and Competitively from the Start
Most showings occur within the first 2 to 3 weeks the house hits the market, so pricing your home right from the get-go will help sell the home in a more timely fashion and put you a step ahead of the competition.
Clean and Declutter
Clutter can make any house seem cramped instead of comfortable, so having a clean and clutter-free home will help drive buyers to your home. Since you are planning to move anyway, get a head start on your packing. Go ahead and pack anything you won’t need in the next month or so.
Move-in Ready Condition
Most buyers are already plagued with the thought of having to move all their stuff, so they will look for homes in move-in ready condition. It is always smart to make any needed repairs before listing your home.
Upgrading what Counts
The best upgrade you can make to sell your home quickly is to install new carpet and paint where needed. Fresh carpet and that new paint smell are instant buyer bait.
Staging your Home to Sell
Staging is one of the newest trends in the real estate market, and it can make a big difference when you are competing with a home that is not staged. Staging helps buyers to better imagine what their furniture and household items will look like in their new home. The most important areas of a house to stage are the master bedroom and bath, and the living room and kitchen. These are the areas that most buyers will spend the majority of their time in.
Create Curb Appeal by Landscaping
All buyers will see the outside of a house before they view the inside. In most cases, if the outside of the home does not look aesthetically pleasing to a buyer, they will never enter the home. So cut the grass, trim the hedges, weed eat around the house, and perform any other task that will make your home more desirable to buyers.
The EntryWay
After the front yard, the front entryway is the first thing buyers will see before entering the home. So the front entryway should be especially sharp. If the door needs repainting or refinishing, then do it. Polishing or replacing the hardware on the door will also help. Place a new WELCOME mat and some type of flower or wreath at the front door.
Light It UP
Maximize the light in your home. After location, good light is the one thing that every buyer cites they want in a home. Takedown the drapes, clean the windows, change the lampshades, increase the wattage of your light bulbs and do what you can to make your house bright and cheery – it will make it more sellable. A squeaky clean house sells faster than any others.
ALWAYS be Ready to Show
Your house needs to be in “show-ready” condition at all times – you never know when your buyer is going to walk through the door. Your house also needs to be available for showing at a moment’s notice. This means you will need to be flexible. Expect buyers at all times of the day and on the weekends, with short notice. How can you sell your home if no buyer ever sees it?
Market the Property
From placing a “For Sale” sign in the yard to posting the listing online, there are plenty of ways to market your property. The most popular way is online posting. You should showcase your property on as many websites as possible, or ensure your agent is posting to as many websites as possible. The most popular websites that buyers use include Realtor.com, Trulia, and Zillow. You should also ensure your agent has posted the listing to your local MLS service.