Let’s be honest: in today’s market, anyone can sell a home. However, what sellers need to know is how to not only sell their home as fast as possible, but also how to sell it for the most money possible. Today, I’m talking about how to get the most money for your home.
Real estate agents across the country are hungry for listings right now because of how easily homes are selling. This is great, but I worry that agents are just looking to sell a house as quickly as possible rather than for as much as possible in the shortest amount of time. So many companies out there are buying homes left and right because…well, they can. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but if what they are offering is less than what someone else would be willing to pay, then I think this is important for sellers to know, don’t you?
In thinking about pricing, I love the way that Jennifer Myers, owner of Agent Grad School, says it: “the market sets the price.” In other words, your house is worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it. The trick is, how do you know how much someone is willing to pay for your home? This can be a challenge for homeowners to figure out, but an expert real estate agent can help you navigate comparable property data, in addition to providing tips on how to make your home stand out in the market so that when prospective buyers are looking at similar homes, they see yours and schedule a showing without hesitation.
So how do you make your home stand out? Here are some important things to consider in making your home sell for as much as possible:
- Freshen up certain features of your home to be up-to-date and neutral (e.g., carpet, paint, tile, etc.).
- Make any necessary repairs so that you are not deterring buyers. If a buyer sees a problem, they may lower their expectation of what they are willing to pay.
- Ensure the furniture and décor are in style. Arrange furniture to be as open and welcoming to guests as possible. If these steps are challenging, consider hiring a stager.
- Pre-pack non-“necessity” items so that they are not taking up space. Similarly, move any personal items out of sight for pictures and showings.
- Organize all storage space to be orderly and at 70% full, to show there is plenty of room.
- Clean the home to be as spotless as possible, or consider hiring a cleaner.
- Use plug-ins or diffusers to keep the house smelling clean.
- Timing is everything. Communicate with your real estate agent to make sure you are timing to listing right to ensure you will get as much interest in the property as possible.
Completing all of these items may feel overwhelming. But a real estate agent can help simplify this process. For example, I have a team of professionals who will conduct the updates your home and who do not need to be paid until settlement (closing and funding of your home). In addition, many agents (including myself) may offer to pay upfront for certain costs on behalf of their seller clients. With so many things to think about as you get ready to sell, take advantage of a real estate agent’s expertise to help share in this responsibility.
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