Looking for guidance to help sell your home quickly and at the best possible price? Follow these pointers from real estate professionals to enhance your home’s appeal, ensure its exposure to a large pool of buyers and optimize your return on investment when you sell:
Pick an agent who uses updated selling technology: In today’s housing market, it’s essential that your real estate agent leverages online tools to make your home appear enticing and easily searchable on the Internet—whether potential buyers are using their home computer, laptop, tablet or mobile phone to house hunt. At the very least, buyers should be able to view plenty of high-quality digital photos of your home. Adding components such as digital floor plans, video with soothing music, and virtual home staging can also be powerful ways to help buyers make an emotional connection to your home.
Perform basic home maintenance and repairs: Before you invest money in any major remodeling projects, first ensure that the home you’re planning to sell is fully functional. Not only are buyers put off by a home with structural damage and with major systems in need of repair, but these problems will also be noted on a home inspector’s report. Make sure prospective new owners don’t walk because of issues such as a leaking roof, a faulty electrical system, plumbing in need of repair, or major appliances that don’t work. The good news: you will often recoup more than 100 percent of the money you invest in fixing issues such as these that provide evidence of a well-cared for home.
Clear out the clutter and de-personalize your home: Selling your home is an opportune time to eliminate items from your life that are no longer serving you. When they tour your home, it’s important that buyers can imagine themselves living there, and clutter create a distraction that makes this very difficult. Regardless of what you consider to be a clutter-free home, it’s almost a given that your agent will also insist that you take the de-clutter process one step further—removing from sight photos, mementos, toys, trinkets, and other personal items. You may also want to check with your agent on recommendations for hiring a professional home staging business. Good agents often have a strong network of reputable professionals who are experts in helping to create a warm, inviting look for your home and getting it showcase ready.
Make minor upgrades: While in most cases investing in a major remodeling project right before you list your home won’t deliver you a positive ROI, minor upgrades often pay off. Two important areas on which to focus: the exterior of your home and the kitchen. A new coat of paint is an inexpensive way to give your home a fresh, updated look and increase your home’s value. Landscape enhancements as simple as adding colorful flowers and plants and maintaining a well-groomed lawn will go far to improve your home’s curb appeal, as will replacing your front entry door and garage door. In terms of your kitchen, improvements such as adding new cabinet hardware, replacing the sink and faucet, and adding new stainless-steel appliances are cost-effective ways to make your home more attractive to buyers.
Work your online network: Don’t overlook the power of social networking sites like Facebook to increase your home’s visibility on the market. Not only does Facebook have more than one billion active users, it also has the advantage of viral sharing. Also make sure your agent is using his or her own online social network to help get your home seen.