When selling your home it’s safe to say that you want to sell it fast and for the most money. I mean, doesn’t everyone? So what do you have to do to get both?
Let’s start with before you list
You need to make sure your house looks it’s best, inside and out. Have a friend or Realtor walk through your home and be brutally honest about where it needs improvement. Make a list and then tackle it. The yard needs work? Clean it up. Plant any needed foliage and do something like adding or updating a family/entertaining space outside.
Declutter, deep clean and update
Inside needs paint? Paint but stick with lighter, more neutral colors. You don’t need to go white or eggshell, but nothing that might turn off prospective sellers. You can add color with accents, like pillows or items on shelves or tables. Kitchen and/or bath need updating? Do it. They sell houses. Declutter, deep clean and thin out furniture and personal items.
Price it right
Now that the house is ready the next and most important thing is to price it right. I can’t stress enough how important this is for selling quickly. It’s not out of line to say that most homes that sit on the market are over or under priced. Pricing is so important. If you price your home incorrectly it won’t show up in searches that your best prospective buyers are shooting for. If you underprice it, thinking it will end up in a bidding war that will get you the price you want, it will backfire. Remember that those looking in the range you priced probably can’t afford to stick with a bidding war that will get you the price you really want. Overpricing it means those who see your home will find it below what the standard home is in that price range.
Lastly, hire the right Realtor and pay them a fair commission
The right Realtor, as opposed to a discount broker, will keep you on the right track. They will help you price correctly, keep emotion out of the process, present you with advice on all offers, lowball or otherwise, and will earn every penny of the higher commission. They will most likely have you do a pre-inspection so you can find and correct any issues prior to selling, which will keep the process much less complicated down the road.
There you have it!
