Tips to Prepare Your Home for Sale So It Beats the Competition

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There are a lot of things to think about when deciding to list your home on the market; from finalizing your decision to sell and setting a price to figuring out where to move on to. But one aspect of selling that gets ignored by many sellers is what to do with the home prior to showing it to the public.

Like anything else that is up for sale, the seller should show a house in its best light. And with our market the way it is lately, more and more sellers are up against other sellers so the competition demands upping the ante one step more. Here are a few tips on what you can do to prepare your home for sale and what it takes to get the home sold.

Make an Accurate Assessment of Value

Contrary to what many homeowners believe, the original purchase price has no bearing on the value of a home. Neither does what the neighbors think it’s valued at have much impact. The only thing that will impact your home’s value is the current market conditions in your local area and the condition of your home. To determine your home’s estimated value and then subsequently set a good price for it – a Comparative Market Analysis is performed. Through the analysis, we are able to see other like kind homes that sold in recent months and do an “apples to apples” comparison.

Establish An Aggressive Marketing Plan

A very important component of selling a home successfully is the market campaign that goes behind it. This includes anything and everything from contacting an existing database of buyers and investors to setting the stage for perfect display using technology. Professional photographs, video and virtual tours and aggressive mail campaigns are also a huge part of a successful marketing scheme. The idea is maximum exposure and with today’s buyers conducting most of their searches online – studies show that 90% of buyers are online for the first few weeks of their search – we focus a lot of our attention on the Internet.

Display Your Home for All Its Features

As a buyer walks through your home, it is critical that they be able to see and experience all the amenities and features of the home for themselves. Keep in mind that they will be inclined to shortlist your home if they can imagine themselves in the space. Removing extra clutter, personal items and freeing up overcrowded areas to show off the home are all steps you can take to make the home show well. Professional home stagers offer varied levels of services ranging from providing a consultation to written reports, moving around your existing furniture or even providing their own display items.

Repair, Renovate and Remodel
The last thing you may want to do when selling your home is to put money in it to fix it. But surprisingly, even just a few small changes can greatly enhance your home’s value. Whether that means repainting the walls to a neutral, buyer-friendly color, resurfacing damaged wood floors or updating an old bathroom – depending on your budget, it is a worthwhile endeavor to look into.

Make the Home Inviting and Presentable

A common mistake many sellers make when preparing their home for sale is to forget making the home inviting. Whether that means making sure the home smells pleasant, creating a nice entryway at the foyer or creating enticing curb appeal – make them feel comfortable. Make an effort to have the home clean and sparkling – with no evidence of pet or smoke smells. Buyers will appreciate this.
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If you’d like to get your home sold, contact us today so we can get to work on your customized marketing plan. We look forward to hearing from you and are excited to working with you!