Tips For Sellers
Help for Homebuyers | Homebuyer Education Programs | More Tips for Buyers | Tips for Sellers |
| 1 | Hire a good agent. A professional who knows your community and has a good track record will go a long way in helping find a buyer. |
| 2 | Clean out the clutter. Open spaces look best. Clean, and clean some more to make a good first impression. |
| 3 | Spiff up your property. Make any improvements that will enhance the way your home shows. When possible, stick with the simplest and less expensive options to be sure the buying price covers your investment. |
| 4 | Determine the worth. Know the fair market value of your home. Your REALTOR® can help you assess the cost. You may also want to have your home appraised. |
| 5 | Price it right! A REALTOR® can help you objectively set the price so that it reflects the value of your home and the trends of the community. |
| 6 | Come up with a plan. Are you set on your price? Eager to move? How low are you willing to go? |
| 7 | Get pre-approved for your next move. If you're looking to buy another house, make sure you know your financial situation. |
| 8 | Figure out your selling costs. Commission, ad costs, attorney fees, taxes and prorated costs may all come into play. Real estate agents deal with transactions every day and can give you a very close estimate of seller costs. |
| 9 | Set the stage. Before a buyer tours your home, clean the windows, open the curtains, replace light bulbs and turn on the lights, display fresh flowers. A bright, good-smelling home is a welcoming home. |
| 10 | It's show time! Be ready and willing to have your home shown any given day … even with short notice. Making it difficult for buyers to see will make it difficult to sell. |
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 as 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? |
8 Quick Fixes to Increase Value
To attract buyers, sellers must up the ante to convince them that their property offers what many want most — top value for dollar expended. Here are eight fast fixes:
| 1 | Buff up curb appeal. You’ve heard it before, but it’s critical to get buyers to want to look on the inside. Be objective. View your property from the street. Check the condition of the landscaping, paint, roof, shutters, front door, knocker, windows, house number, and even how window treatments look from the outside. Add something special — such as big flower pots or an antique bench — to help viewers remember house A from B. |
| 2 | Enrich with color. Paint’s cheap, but forget the adage that it must be white or neutral. Just don’t get too avant-garde with jarring pinks, oranges, and purples. Recommend soft colors that say “welcome,” lead the eye from room to room, and flatter skin tones. Think soft yellows and pale greens. Tint ceilings a lighter shade. |
| 3 | Upgrade the kitchen and bathroom. These make-or-break rooms can spur a sale. But besides making each squeaky clean and clutter-free, update the pulls, sinks, and faucets. In a kitchen, add one cool appliance, such as an espresso maker. In the bathroom, hang a flat-screen TV to mimic a hotel. Room service, anyone? |
| 4 | Add old-world patina. Make Andrea Palladio proud. Install crown molding at least six to nine inches in depth, proportional to the room’s size, and architecturally compatible. For ceilings nine feet high or higher, add dentil. |
| 5 | Screen hardwood floors. Buyers favor wood over carpet, but refinishing is costly and time-consuming. Screening cuts dust, time, and expense. What it entails: a light sanding, not a full stripping of color or polyurethane, then a coat of finish. |
| 6 | Clean out, organize closets. Get sorting — organize your piles into “don’t need,” “haven’t worn,” and “keep.” Closets must be only half-full so buyers can visualize fitting their stuff in. |
| 7 | Update window treatments. Buyers want light and views, not dated, fancy-schmancy drapes that darken. To diffuse light and add privacy, consider energy-efficient shades and blinds. |
| 8 | Hire a home inspector. Do a preemptive strike, since busy home owners seek maintenance-free living. Fix problems before you list your home. |
How to Improve the Odds of an Offer
| 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. |