If this sounds like what you’re looking for, read on…
Before you do anything, you’re doing to want to take a hard look at your home to determine if it needs any updating before you list it. Keep in mind that what you like may not necessarily be what someone else likes.
When I bought the home I currently own, I opted for espresso brown cabinets in the kitchen. It’s been ten years since our renovations, and now a days, NOBODY seems to want a brown kitchen anymore. Most people want a “clean”, timeless white kitchen. If we ever decide to sell, we may be looking at a light kitchen makeover to attract more buyers.
But, back to the topic at hand.
Although updating is important, don’t overdo it. You do not have to take on an extreme home make over before selling. Most buyer’s will want to put personal touches on a home to make it feel like their own anyways. In terms of home selling tips, you just want to make sure the home is clean and clutter-free.
Other home selling tips can seem so simple, yet they could have a big pay off for you.
If you don’t want to pay for a professional stager, there are many things you can easily do on your own.
De-personalize your home. Yes, that’s right – depersonalize!
Remove any family photos from walls or surfaces. In addition, relocate some of your belongings and clothing so closets appear to have more space. The same goes for storage spaces.
Ultimately, you will be “taking the home, out of the home” as strange as that may sound.
People want to visualize themselves and their own families in a space. You don’t want them to be distracted by thinking about you and your family in the space.
And, speaking of which… if you have a dog or any other pets, it’s strongly recommended that they are removed from the home during showings. While you may love your fur family (I know I love mine), not everyone will and worse yet, some may have allergies. The last thing you want is for someone to have an
allergic reaction after a showing!
Although every buyer’s wish list may vary, one thing always seems to rank at the very top. If you guessed the kitchen, then you’re right!
Some would even go so far as to say, you’re not actually selling your house, you’re selling your kitchen.
That is truly how important this room in the house is.
It may cost a few thousand dollars to update this room, but that spend is better than a buyer trying to negotiate over $10,000 off the list price because the kitchen is out of date. If you think this could apply to your home, then the most inexpensive kitchen reno’s you can consider are painting (ideally a neutral colour) and new hardware for the cabinets.
Home selling tips that top the list also include lighting. You may not prefer bright lighting for your day to day life, but when it comes to selling your home, you want to highlight the best features. Open the drapes, clean the windows, swap out lampshades, cut back bushes and increase wattage in lightbulbs. Do whatever you need to do to make your house bright, airy and cheerful. All of these things will help make it more sellable and sell for top dollar.
When it comes to pricing, you need to know the value then decide what strategy you’d like to utilize the attract not only the most buyers, but also the serious buyers. In today’s market, most buyer’s understand that homes are selling over asking. They often sell far more over asking, if the list price is in the sweet spot. This tends to be 15-20% under the value.
Keep in mind, if you do get an offer at list price but no others and reject it, you could find yourself in a difficult situation with your REALTOR®. Of course, you should have the conversation about strategy with them before listing but if they’ve put in the work to sell your house and you decline an offer at list price, you may still be on the hook for their commission.
Last but not least, when it comes to home selling tips, remember – the first impression may be the only impression. Due to the pandemic, buyers are relying on photos, videos and matterport, now more than ever to make decisions about the homes they’d like to see.
No matter how good you think your home looks, it’s a good idea to get a second opinion. If your REALTOR® recommends updating a few things, it is in your best interest. You may also wonder if you would be better of renovating or selling which is natural.
It’s important that people feel warm, welcomed and very safe as they approach the house. Even if your interior looks amazing, the exterior is equally important. Take some time to spruce up your home’s curb appeal as well.
I hope you’ve found my “home selling tips” to be helpful. If you’re thinking of making a move, let’s chat! I can be reached at 647.896.6584 or fill out my contact form.
For plenty of other great tips, make sure we’re connected on social and you’ve subscribed to my YouTube channel.
You can also find out what your home is worth.
