The housing market of today may seem like it’s dominated by foreclosures and discounted rates, but you can actually find some well qualified buyers out there willing to pay top dollar for great homes. Read this article to find out how to present your home correctly in order to receive maximum value.
You may want to hire a professional appraiser to get a solid number on the value of your home. This can be helpful if there has not been much real estate activity in the area recently, your home is unique in some way or if there are co-owners on the property.
Use up-lighting behind furniture to light up dark corners of the room so that they do not look unwelcoming and dreary. It only takes a few minutes to do and it will make a big difference when showing the home to potential buyers. A bright clean space is going to entice the buyer to enter the room and picture themselves living there.
Something that most sellers overlook are the light switches. It may not seem important, but old or dirty light switches can send a negative vibe. People naturally look at light switches, and most likely you’ll use them while showing the home. So put out a little extra money and replace all the old light switches in the home and make them look nice.
Pay close attention to the commission terms stated in the listing contract that you sign with your real estate agent. Generally speaking, the agent earns his or commission when the buyer and seller reach an agreement. However, if for some reason you decided not to sell your home after reaching an agreement, your agent may still be entitled to commission. This amount can easily total thousands of dollars, and you are legally obligated to pay it.
Know the competition that you’re up against, when putting your house on the market. Visit some open houses in your neighborhood or have your agent schedule you to attend a few showings. This can give you a great reality check and help you to analyze the effectiveness of the price and upgrades that you’ve done on your property.
Less is more when selling your home in todays real estate market. Move any furniture that is not needed including photographs and knick-knacks into storage. This way, potential buyers will be able to better visualize their furniture in the home. Remember that your taste may not necessarily be loved by everyone else.
If you are showing your home at night, turn on all of the lights. It appeals to buyers when your home seems welcoming. You should turn on all lights, indoor and outdoor. Turning on the lights can add color to your home. It can also give a warming effect. With all of the lights on, the buyers will be able to see all of your house easily.
When you want to stain a deck, you can check with your local hardware store to see if they rent a power washer to help you clean the deck. This will save you a lot of time. However, keep in mine that you have to transport the power washer vertically so you will need an SUV, minivan, or truck.
Paint your walls a neutral color so that the potential buyer can more easily picture themselves living in the home. Light candles or bake cookies, not just for the aroma, but to share with potential buyers. An atmosphere they feel welcome in may determine whether they choose to buy your home.
Do not forget to remove clutter from your garage when you are preparing your house for sale. All of the junk that has been accumulating in the garage can make that space very unattractive. It is difficult for the buyer to envision what he can do with that space if your clutter is everywhere. Since you will be moving anyway, start getting rid of things that you do not plan to take with you.
Make your house as anonymous as possible when having an open house. You want people to feel like they could make this place their own. When they see your personal stuff everywhere, it makes them feel more like a visitor. If they don’t share the same taste as you, that may be enough to convince them not buy the house.
Before selling your home, think about changing the toilets and toilet seats throughout the bathrooms in your home. It makes a potential buyer feel better knowing that they are using a toilet that no one else has ever used. Also, make the toilet seat an attractive one. This can make the bathroom attractive.
Building a built-in bookshelf in your office or study is attractive to a potential home buyer. They look at it as extra storage space that they do not have to pay for. Just try not to build too many around your house, otherwise, that can make your home seem too cluttered.
When you are ready to show your house to prospective buyers, make sure that your entryway is in top condition. A messy, unkempt entry, or a sticky door lock can send a negative message to the buyer. A newly polished door fixture and a new doormat, are little details that can make a big difference.
Many buyers are interested in buying homes that have hardwood floors since that is a look that seems to never get dated. If you do not have them you can install them and that would increase the value of your home. Laminates are a good option if you cannot afford hard wood, but understand that many buyers do not like the hollow sounds laminate floors make.
If you cannot get maximum value for your property, then you obviously approached selling in this real estate market the wrong way. Be sure that you’re always reading helpful tips like these in order to help you receive maximum value for any type of property you own and in any type of market condition.
