Getting Ready to Sell Your Home

When attempting to sell your home you want to make sure that you get the maximum amount of return as possible.

Here are some basic tips to help you sell your home faster and more profitable:

Trim the bushes and keep the lawn mowed at all times. Nothing can detract from good curb appeal quicker than unkempt landscaping and lawn.

Get rid of the clutter! You want possible buyers to look at the home and visualize themselves living there. This is sometimes hard to do when there are distractions all over the place.

In fact, your home’s presentation is critical when you wish to sell quickly.
Your goal should be to leave an impression with prospective buyers, and to help insure you leave the RIGHT impression, here are some other basic maintenance areas to pay attention to.

-Entryway
-Interior and Exterior Paint
-Flooring
-Lighting fixtures
-Ventilation systems
-Doors and Windows
-Driveway and walkways
-Outside watering systems
-Lawn and general landscaping

Some basic maintenance in these areas will get you closer to ensuring your home is in ideal selling condition, and can expedite the selling process.

Many homeowners that are getting ready to sell their homes are actually moving some of their belongings and "clutter" into storage units and/or storage pods. You can also consider moving some of your belongings into a friend or relative's home while you are selling your home so that you can save on the storage fees and have easier access to your belongings. By removing furniture, packing up some boxes and removing "clutter" you can give your home a more roomier appearance and make the inside of your home more appealing to potential buyers.

When showing your house to potential buyers, remember this:

Lighting
The lighting in a home can be very important to potential buyers. Open all of the shutters, blinds and curtains. Let the sun shine in. This also creates a feeling of space. Turn on the lights in every room to make sure that your home offers no dark corners. Proper lighting allows a viewer to thoroughly inspect your home. Avoid ceiling lights and focus on task/directional lighting especially if your home has nice features.

Atomosphere
During the winter months, lighting a fire in the fireplace sets a very inviting mood. Soft music can help establish a contented mood. And don't forget the garden. Turn on any water features or lights.

Fresh flowers and plants are a sign of life and prosperity. Disperse greenery to most of the rooms in your house. A few classically designed floral bouquets can add a touch of elegance to any décor.

Fresh Feels

Open all of the windows to thoroughly air out your home. Having a fresh smelling home can be very inviting. Closing the windows before viewers arrive is important to keeping the home a comfortable temperature.

Bear in mind that smoke and animal smells can knock thousands off the price of your home!

In addition to opening the windows, there are many ways to improve the smell of your home. Scented candles are always favorites for many people. Grinding fresh lemon peels and boiling cinnamon sticks are additional ways to make a home feel cosy not to mention the smell of fresh coffee – a favourite with many estate agents.

The easiest way to a fast sell is pricing your home properly. To determine your potential asking price, research neighborhood sales and look for the homes most similar to yours that have sold within the last three to six months. Also pay attention to how many other homes are for sell in your neighborhood. The more homes that are for sell, the more competitively you need to price your home if selling soon is important.

When getting ready to sell your home determine the current market value of your home by either having it appraised or getting a BPO(Brokers Price Opinion). Knowing this value will help you decide if any small or large renovations will add value to your home. Plus, a homes pricing may be the biggest factor in determining how soon you sell your home.

» DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this article on 'Getting Ready to Sell Your Home' is a collection of contributions by licensed mortgage professionals and is not the opinion of Broker Outpost LLC. Always consult a licensed professional before applying for a mortgage.