The short answer is to think like a buyer.
But, if you are thinking of selling your home (or just want a fun book to read) there’s a great book entitled “Experts’ Guide to Doing Things Faster,” created by Samantha Ettus, that you need to read. It doesn’t take long. Here’s some of the chapter on how to sell a house. The author of this chapter, Barbara Corcoran, really says it best.
The key to selling a home fast is to price it right. You could spend all the money in the world fixing up and marketing your house, but the wrong price on the right house will guarantee you won’t sell it.
Before you set the price, you’ve got to walk in the shoes of a buyer. Start by shopping online for local houses similar to yours. … Invite three competitive brokers to see your home and estimate its value. … Take out your list of comparable homes you found online and pick out the five least expensive. Average those with the three broker estimates for your house. Now price your home 5 percent lower than the number you get. …
Spend a couple of weekends visiting neighborhood open houses. You’ll get an instant education in what not to do when marketing your own home. You’ll see that the most important change to make is to get rid of all your clutter. …
People love light and they’re willing to pay for it. After location, the top reason buyers choose a particular home is light. … Next, scrub your house clean. Make it spotless. Before the first open house, open all your windows for a full 8 hours.
The advise goes on, but there’s not much more. Clean, scrub, make the front yard appealing, take great photos and lots of them, and hire a top notch agent who will more than earn their pay. That would be me.
Here are five good tips for you to consider, and we can discuss them when we meet:
5 Things to do Before Putting Your Home on the Market
1. Have a pre-sale home inspection. Be proactive by arranging for a pre-sale home inspection. An inspector will be able to give you a good indication of the trouble areas that will stand out to potential buyers, and you’ll be able to make repairs before open houses begin.
2. Organize and clean. Pare down clutter and pack up your least-used items, such as large blenders and other kitchen tools, out-of-season clothes, toys, and exercise equipment. Store items off-site or in boxes neatly arranged in the garage or basement. Clean the windows, carpets, walls, lighting fixtures, and baseboards to make the house shine.
3. Get replacement estimates. Do you have big-ticket items that are worn our or will need to be replaced soon, such your roof or carpeting? Get estimates on how much it would cost to replace them, even if you don’t plan to do it yourself. The figures will help buyers determine if they can afford the home, and will be handy when negotiations begin.
4. Find your warranties. Gather up the warranties, guarantees, and user manuals for the furnace, washer and dryer, dishwasher, and any other items that will remain with the house.
5. Spruce up the curb appeal. Pretend you’re a buyer and stand outside of your home. As you approach the front door, what is your impression of the property? Do the lawn and bushes look neatly manicured? Is the address clearly visible? Are pretty flowers or plants framing the entrance? Is the walkway free from cracks and impediments?
How to Get an Offer on Your Home
1. Price it right. Set a price at the lower end of your property’s realistic price range.
2. Prepare for visitors. Get your house market ready at least two weeks before you begin showing it.
3. Be flexible about showings. It’s often disruptive to have a house ready to show at the spur of the moment. But the more amenable you can be about letting people see your home, the sooner you’ll find a buyer.
4. Anticipate the offers. Decide in advance what price and terms you’ll find acceptable.
5. Don’t refuse to drop the price. If your home has been on the market for more than 30 days without an offer, you should be prepared to at least consider lowering your asking price.
