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St. Charles, IL 60174
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Selling? | Buying? | Home
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Tips for Sellers!
How to get Top Dollar For Your Home
These proven techniques can help every seller in any market. These tips are essential for getting top dollar and a quicker sale!
Invest in your sale!
Owning a home is an investment. Investing in your sale can give you a greater return on your investment! Most buyers searching for a home want a home that is in "move-in" condition. This means that buyers can simply move-in without any projects to work on or finish up. Most sellers will put off getting new carpet, or re-painting the home because a buyer might want different carpet, or might have different decorating ideas. Although many buyers will make changes to their new homes, it detracts from their first impression to walk-in and have to make changes. If your flooring is in need of replacing, replace the flooring before the home is listed for sale. Don't assume that the buyers will be willing to accept a flooring allowance, or will want to replace the flooring themselves. Homes that have these projects taken care of before they are listed generally sell faster and for more money.Quick and Easy updating techniques that make a BIG difference
Change out your light fixtures. Buyers often equate the value of a home with the amount of updating in your home. A quick and inexpensive way to update your home is to change out the light fixtures to something more updated. Many times light fixtures are easy to install and can be found at Lowe's, Home Depot, or Menards. Also, replace your existing light bulbs with a slightly higher wattage, or clear bulbs. A little light goes a long way when it comes to selling your house! Changing the handles on your cabinets have the same effect. It can make older cabinets appear to be updated and new.Make your home available to buyers!
Showing your home can be inconvenient at times, but if you want to get top dollar for the sale of your home make your home available to buyers at their convenience! If a buyer requests to see your home, they more than likely have other homes to see as well, and are making an effort to take time to look at homes. When a seller denies a showing, or asks the agent/buyer to reschedule they might loose the immediate interest of the potential buyer. Homes that are convenient to show give the buyer the impression that the sellers are motivated and willing to work with them. If you are flexible with the agents/buyers who are trying to show your home, you increase your chances of finding a buyer sooner than those who aren't as flexible. This also means that your home must always be in showing condition. Make the beds, keep the showers clean, and keep those air freshners going! If possible, turn on the lights, light some candles, and play some soft music.Do not talk to prospective buyers!
It is important not to talk to prospective buyers that are looking at the house. Let the buyers ask their agent any questions they have, and DO NOT take the buyers on a tour of the house. The buyers agent knows best what their clients are looking for and which features to point out. Taking buyers on a tour of the house and pointing out all of the features of the home make buyers feel uncomfortable. Asking questions about where the buyers live, why they are moving, and what features they are looking for also make buyers feel uncomfortable. If the buyer is interested in the property they will ask all of their questions to their Realtor, and their Realtor will get in touch with your Realtor. As a seller, you never know how a buyer will perceive what you are telling them, or if you are coming across as over-bearing. If you happen to be home, make yourself scarce, and let the buyers approach you with questions.Dress up your curb appeal!
The front of your house is the first thing buyers will see either driving by or on the internet. It's important to have the best curb appeal possible. If your exterior needs painting, lightening, or touching up, get those jobs done before the house goes on the market. Add flowers everywhere possible! Put planters by the front entry, edge the walkway in flowers/plants, and keep your lawn green. This helps to create the right first impression as buyers walk up toward the front of your house, or are driving by. New front doors also have a positive effect.Look at your home like a prospective buyer would!
Once all of these projects are done, go through your home like a prospective buyer would, starting outside. Walk up to the front door and analyze, for the price you are asking, are there any projects that need to be completed. Assume that for the price you are asking, a prospective buyer could simply move right in. Are there any projects that could easily be done that would increase the value? When you walk into the foyer, what greets you? Do you feel comfortable and warm? Is the entry too overpowering for the buyer? Try adding a vase of flowers in the entry way to help create the first impression of the inside of the house. If you're walking through the house as a potential buyer and see other projects that can be done, do them before the house lists. This will ensure you receive top dollar for the sale of your home! Do not wait until buyers give you feedback that those projects need to be done, because then you've already missed out on potential buyers that might have paid a higher price, for the projects to be completed.Offer a Home Warranty
Home warranties are proven to help sell a home quicker and for more money. It makes a buyer feel comfortable that if anything major breaks down when they move in it will not be expensive to fix. Most buyers do not have the additional cash when purchasing a home to spend a lot of money updating or fixing the home once they move in. A home warranty will help assure the buyers that they are making a wise purchase. Home warranties also cover the seller for the duration of the listing and aren't paid for until closing. In many instances, an appliance will break that is covered, for a significantly lower charge, by the home warranty which helps to save you money as a seller.If you'd like a complimentary real estate consultation on the sale of your home Simply email me at: Sarah@SarahLeeBond.com