As a Realtor, I cannot talk anyone into selling their home. People only put their houses up for sale when they are ready or when they have to due to circumstances. I will be there whenever you decide it’s time to buy or sale real estate.
When you are ready, I highly recommend using a Realtor. There is no better way to get the job done when trying to maximize the value of your property and get the experience and knowledge of a reliable source and negotiator. If you are in the Houston area, I recommend one of Register Real Estate Advisors experienced and trained Realtors. Below are a few things to get you started in the right direction before contacting your agent. Remember, your Realtor only gets paid when the deal closes, so they are doing everything they can to get you to the closing table as soon as possible. They have a lot of people to work with to facilitate the transaction – the other Realtor in the deal, the title company, the lender, the appraiser, the surveyor, the inspector, and more. They get paid on a percentage of the sales price. So it’s a good incentive for Realtors to get the maximum amount of money for your home.
1. PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR SALE
If you don’t correct the minor things around the home like blown light bulbs and dirty air filters, potential buyers will wonder about the things that they cannot see. In contrast, when all the little cosmetic things are taken care of, the buyers overall perception of your property is positive.
2. STAGE YOUR HOME TO MAKE IT APPEALING TO BUYERS
In many cases, sellers continue to live in the home while it is for sale. If you are going to do that, understand that you can’t live like you normally do. You will need to keep your home ready to show. Keep it clean, organized, smelling nice, and at a good temperature. You will need to keep the blinds open even when you are at work. You may need to leave lights on in certain areas of the house so that if it shows while you are out, it will appear bright and welcoming. You need to store all personal items around the sink, all the mail, the food and small appliances you like to keep handy on the counter, and your wall photos. Family photos are wonderful, but if the buyer walks into your bedroom and there is a huge framed photo of you on your wedding day, they are going to talk about how pretty you are and what a great photo it is, instead of looking at the bedroom! Here are a few reminders…
- Clean the blinds and dust the fans
- Paint
- Steam clean the carpets and stretch where needed
- Fix any leaky faucets
- Replace the cauking around the tub and sinks
- Pack up clothes you don’t wear to make the closet look bigger or donate those clothes to a good cause
- Pack up everything you don’t need (you’re moving anyway!) and stack the boxes along the wall of the garage or in a rented storage unit
- Wash the Windows
3. CURB APPEAL
Seems like everyone should know about curb appeal since there have been so many HGTV shows about it. And yet, we get so comfortable with our own homes that we don’t notice things that buyers see. Make sure you are not just cutting the lawn and planting flowers. Go ahead and blow off the patio, power wash it, edge the lawn, trim the shrubs, fertalize, restaing the front door, and paint where necessary.
4. EMOTIONAL APPEAL
When you are selling a home, remember that the buyers are making an emotional decision that will affect their family. Make sure your home gives buyers a good feeling. They have to picture, in their mind, their family living happily in that home. The house has to leave them feeling like this is the place they want to live. So open the drapes, turn on the lights, and keep the house at a refreshing temperature. Make sure it smells nice.
Using this list and the help of your experienced real estate agent, you will help your home to sell quickly at the maximum value. Buyers aren’t looking for a handout – they want the house perfect for move in. So if you know it needs repairs, do them. Don’t offer them money at closing or come down on the price. Get your home ready and you will get it sold! Call RREA today for more information 281.288.3500.
