Thinking of putting your current home on the market? Looking for some stellar ways to stand out? We have some great ideas for you! Check out these tips on how to set yourself apart in a crowded market. Not only will they help you crush the competition, but they’ll help your home sell quickly, easily and for top dollar.
1. Repairs and Improvements
One of the very first things you should do is take a walk through your home and assess what needs to be repaired or updated. When the time comes to sell, these little fixer-uppers can go a long way in terms of helping you get the most value. Above and beyond a fresh coat of neutral paint, other improvements you may want to consider include:
- Broken windows
- Ripped or missing screens
- Missing hardware on cabinetry or doors (or update existing hardware)
- Refinishing or repairing hardwood floors
- New and matching light bulbs
- Holes in the wall (you’ll have to repair these before painting anyway)
- Upgrade old or broken appliances
- Get a pre-sale inspection
For more advice as to which repairs will bring the biggest return, check out Repairs Before Home Selling Return Rewards.
2. Professional Cleaning
After you’re satisfied with your improvements and upgrades, you’ll want to ensure your home is as clean as possible. Hire a house cleaning service beforehand to really deep clean those neglected areas such as the walls and baseboards, windows and hard to reach areas that may collect dust.
You’ll also want to consider hiring a professional carpet cleaning company to brighten up and deep clean the carpeting in your home. This is especially important if you have pets, as a professional service will be more likely to remove any pet dander, stains or smells.
3. Curb Appeal
Since the outside of your home is the first thing prospective buyers will see, it’s imperative your home look its best. This means a fresh coat of paint and clean windows for the outside as well.
You’ll also want to make sure your lawn is as healthy looking as possible, or at the very least mowed and free of weeds. You can also consider the following ideas to really boost your home’s outdoor charm:
- Trim hedges, shrubs or bushes
- Repair broken walkways and sidewalks
- Ensure the yard is free of any pet mess or garbage
- Repair or replace damaged house numbers or mailboxes
- Display a few baskets or pots of flowers
4. Staging
Consider having your home professionally staged in order to really take it to the next level. More than just decorating and decluttering, a good home stager will show case your home’s best features and minimize its flaws.
Conversely, there are plenty of helpful home staging tips you can put to good use if you prefer to do it yourself.
5. Quality Photos
Now that you’ve got your home looking fresh and clean, you’ll want to take some killer photos to showcase all your hard work. Because many homeowners opt to snap a few photos on their phones, you can really give yourself an edge by hiring a professional photographer. Not only will a few eye-catching photos give you an advantage over other sellers, it can be extremely affordable and quick.
6. Create a Killer Listing
Another thing you can do to give yourself the edge over other sellers is to come up with a great listing description. According to the experts here’s a few examples of some listing do’s and don’ts:
Do be clear about the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and square footage. This is listing 101 information.
Don’t repeat the same words and descriptors over and over. ‘Beautiful’, ‘spacious’, ‘large’ etc. can lose their charm if you overuse them.
Do list your kitchen and bathroom features. These rooms are the most important for prospective home buyers so you’ll want to be as detailed as possible.
Don’t be too descriptive. In today’s world of online browsing, people have short attention spans. Get right to the point so as to avoid losing them with too much text.
Do provide some information about the neighbourhood. If you live in a community full of great parks, schools, nearby to shopping etc. be sure to mention it! For many, the community is just as, if not more important, than the house.
7. Pets and Personalization
One of the best things you can do prior to people showing up at your home is act like you don’t live there…weird, but true! We know you proudly display your kids’ finger paintings or family pictures on your fridge as an act of love but the truth is, home buyers just don’t want to see these things. This is because they’re trying to picture themselves in the home and seeing your personal effects hinders this illusion for them.
The same applies to pets. If at all possible, take your pets with you when people are viewing your home and clean up any dishes, toys or other pet paraphernalia. Again, these things hinder the illusion for prospective home buyers and can irritate those with allergies.
Just because a seller’s market is a competitive market, doesn’t mean you can’t stand out among the crowd. If you’re thinking of selling your home, keep the above tips in mind and you’ll be sure to sell your home faster and for a great price.
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