When it comes to selling your house, hiring an experienced, aggressive listing agent is critical. But selling your home is a collaborative effort. It’s a team sport – not a spectator sport – and going into the process with an all-hands-on-deck attitude will make the experience go smoothly, efficiently and – hopefully – quickly.
And yes, we realize that last-minute showings – or any showings, really – can be inconvenient as you have to vacate and make arrangements for your pets (yes, you should definitely do that). But those buyers requesting that less-than-timely showing? They could very well be the same ones who buy your house.
So here are a few things your agent wished you knew that will help take your home from FOR SALE to SOLD:
- Create A Neutral Canvas. While your home may be well decorated, it still looks like your home, making it harder for prospective buyers to see themselves in it. Clutter can have an especially negative impact, making a home feel cramped. Keep it uncluttered, un-personalized and as blank a canvas as possible.
- Tell Us Everything. Wood rot? Roof leak? Cracked tiles? Don’t withhold information from your agent about any of your home’s issues because you’re concerned it might hurt your sale. Your listing agent is on your side and knows what must be fixed or what can wait because it will all likely be discovered in the end regardless.
- Be Prepared to Make Some Repairs. Expect to spend a little to make your house look its best. Replace or paint scuffed baseboards. Patch and paint holes in the walls. Pressure wash your walkways. What has become ‘normal’ and ‘unnoticeable’ to you may look like expensive repairs to buyers – even when they’re not.
- Your Renovations May Not Be Worth As Much As You’d Hoped. We know – you’ve worked hard on your renovations but unfortunately, that doesn’t always equate to increased value. Your home’s ROI, or return on investment, largely depends on the type of improvements you do. Check this list for renovations that pay off.
- Don’t Overprice. Seriously. Just don’t. While it may seem tempting to list high and then negotiate down to avoid leaving any money on the table, you could actually be doing more harm than good. And since a buyer’s agents will immediately know that you’ve overpriced, they will – understandably – avoid bringing their buyers.
- Keep It Clean. Things like a crusty stove, dusty furniture, and dirty bathrooms are where cleanliness – or lack thereof – are most noticeable. And remember: Buyers will open every closet door so when tidying your home, don’t shove everything into your closets, giving the impression that there isn’t enough storage in your home.
- Be Patient. It’s easy to expect your home to sell quickly just because you love it – so everyone else should, too. But that’s not always the case. Most homes are on the market for an average of 66 days but from start to finish, the real estate process is long, evolving from showings to inspections to appraisals to negotiations.
- We’re Only The Messenger. It’s never fun to present a low offer, a long list of requested repairs, or a low appraisal, but it’s part of the job; we’re simply relaying information from a third party. Please remember that we’re not the ones writing ‘insulting’ offers, performing home inspections, or appraising your home.
Selling your home can be a huge undertaking but with the right agent on your team and your cooperation and partnership, you position your agent to do what you’ve chosen them to do: Sell your house for top dollar as quickly as possible. Call one of the experienced agents at DeLeon Sheffield Company today to help you move onward and upward.
Because at DeLeon Sheffield Company, ‘We’re More Than Realty; We’re Family.’
