How To Sell Your House
If your house has stalled on the market, use these tips to reinvigorate interest and get you going again.
1) Get in touch with other agents and see how they value your house. The price you are asking for could be too much. Nobody wants to lower their price, but selling it might require you to do so. A lower price will bring more people to see the house, which could lead to a bidding war. It all comes down to how much you want your house sold.
2) Look at your home through the eyes of a stranger. Are any rooms in need of a quick coat of fresh paint? Picking neutral colors is a cheap, easy way to freshen up the room. Add some creativity by adding color to walls and getting matching accessories.
3) Look for DIY in your home. Signs of an uncared-for house include handles hanging off the cupboards, dripping taps, and falling curtain rods. You want to find people that want to live in your home. Buyers that want to renovate the property will want to buy the house at a cheaper rate. Most potential buyers – especially families – don’t want to renovate a house. Plan a few weekends and nights to accomplish this.
4) Smells – be honest, does your house smell? Are pets around? Dog-lovers may forget that their dogs smell, but this smell can bother those that don’t own dogs. It may be necessary to really clean the carpeting and freshen up the furnishings. Once I saw a house without a u-bend in problems solved easily. People want their house – especially bathrooms and kitchens – to smell nice and clean. Do not use bleach or other cleaners with lingering odors. Brew a fresh pot of coffee if you’ve got a machine right before a viewing. The smell is welcoming.
5) What impression does your property give? Make sure the outside is well done. If you’re frustrated because your house hasn’t sold in a long time, the yard may need some attention. Remember you only need to sell your house to one person, so just keep it tidy and wait for that person to come along. The front garden needs particular care – a little effort goes a long way. Trim the hedges and make sure everything looks well-maintained.
6) Visual Appeal – Be sure the house is clean before each viewing. While first impressions are important, once that’s over, people take a much closer look. People want to feel clean in their new house. Dust will repel potential buyers.
7) Clean up People want spacious rooms. If your house has been selling for a long period of time, it may be a little messy. Have someone else straighten up the rooms to create more space. You want your home to be light, spacious, and welcoming, so people can easily picture themselves living there.
Get a few different evaluations of your home from different agents. Consider a new agent with updated house details. Speaking of selling the house, check and see if they actually sell it. Do you have nice pictures and did you include a floor plan? Unflattering photos will give the house a bad image. Be sure your agent is actively trying to sell the house and not just listing it. When an agent is not excited about selling your property, it’s time to get another. Additionally, if your property has been listed for a while, your agent may have given up on selling it. You may be able to pick up clues to this in the way he speaks or the things he says to potential buyers. If things are dragging, be sure to check on this.
9) Agree to all viewings and be prepared an hour early – they can show up unexpectedly. Viewings can be very helpful, but you need to be prepared before they happen. It is necessary to clean and tidy up and it’s best if you are off of the property. If a person looks at your house, it means s/he is thinking about buying it. Whether or not that person’s home is on the market is a secondary consideration. Tidy up the house then go out and have a good time. You may just go visit friends, but have fun. If nothing else, you will come home to a clean house. Make certain to provide your agent with an extra key. You’re paying your agent a lot of money so don’t be afraid to use them. If you aren’t a sales person, don’t show the house yourself. If you don’t know what you are doing, you could end up preventing a sale rather than facilitating it.
10) After you’re finished working, try to see the house through the eyes of a buyer – what do you notice? Change things up in order to present everything in a favorable manner. Flowers can add freshness, brightness, and they can show that you love your house. When you make this kind of change, you may be able to get more enjoyment from your property while you are in the process of selling it.
Good luck selling your home…
