Home selling season is in full swing and thoughts of putting your home on the market may have breezed through your mind. Industry experts say this is the ideal time to list your home. If you’re considering listing your home for sale, consult with a real estate sales professional with a proven track record of sales – and have a checklist ready.
First, an experienced real estate sales professional like myself will provide you with a sales marketing plan that includes a pricing strategy that takes into consideration competing homes, current inventory levels and time on market. That plan should also outline the online marketing approach and the initiatives you need to complete as a homeowner to ensure success.
Second, sellers should clean everything! Ensure that your home has optimal curb appeal, particularly during the hot summer months since gardens need a little extra attention. Ensure that lawns are mowed, clutter is removed, trash bins are hidden from view, exterior paint is fresh and no roof tiles are missing. It is also important to make sure your driveway is free of cracks and oil stains. First impressions are important and potential buyers do judge a house by its exterior, so be sure to invest a little time and elbow grease to win over buyers before they even walk through your door.
The inside counts too. Cleanliness is king when it comes to showing your property to prospective buyers. Make sure to clean your windows inside and out, vacuum carpets, mop floors and clear all the dust that accumulates in exhaust fans and lighting fixtures. If deep cleaning is not your forte, you can hire a professional cleaning service to scrub down your home. This may cost a few hundred dollars, but it’s well worth it.
Equally important is to declutter as minimalist interiors tend to show best. Buyers walk in and try to imagine their ideal or actual furniture in various spaces. There is nothing worse for house hunters than walking into a cluttered space and being so overwhelmed with stuff that they decide against it on the spot. Be sure to minimize extra furniture and objects by renting a small storage space while you are in the process of showing your home. The small cost is worth the large return.
Third, home staging and professional photography are critical and effective because they emphasize a property’s strengths and minimize its weak points. They allow your home to be shown at its maximum potential and attract the attention and admiration of prospective buyers.
It’s no surprise that a 2007 survey of Accredited Staging Professionals by the company StagedHomes found that 94 percent of staged homes sold on average in one month or less and spent 80 percent less time on the market than those that were not staged.
Staging isn’t just decorating. It’s choosing the right props, moving or getting rid of furniture that makes the space look smaller, and creating focal points in main living areas. When you list your home with me, you can be assured that your home will be shown in the best light possible.
Fourth, comfort is key. Particularly during the warmer months, so be sure to have your AC running at a comfortable temperature. If your home is not equipped with AC, then make sure the windows are open and fans are running in the extra warm spaces. It is also a good idea to ensure that shutters and blinds are drawn until just before the open house to help keep out the heat.
Ready to get started? Contact me today for a personal home seller consultation!
This article has been adapted from HawaiiHome.me, August 7, 2017.
