Is Your House Ready To Sell?

Let’s face it. Your home is competing against a host of other homes on the market. And even though you tell yourself that it’s a sellers market and your house will sell itself, buyers still have choices.

I recently previewed a couple homes listed for sale in the $800,000+ market—one by a traditional brokerage, another by a discount brokerage. While they both had their charms, one was actually ready to sell, the other was not.

You can probably guess which was which.

If you put your house on the market, you want your house to stand out—and not in a bad way. Asking yourself two critical questions is the first step to creating a home irresistible to buyers. It is the first step to selling your home for the most money in the shortest amount of time.

1. Is the price right?

One of the reasons you may lose buyers is when your house is priced too high. Sellers often make emotional pricing decisions—decisions that are irrelevant to buyers. When it comes to price, buyers usually want one thing: to pay the fair market value. Sure, there may be times when buyers will be willing to pay more to get a home they really want. But pricing a home too high has several pitfalls: attracting unscrupulous agents, scaring away potential buyers, missing buyers who are searching in the true market range, ensuring your home will sit on the market too long, and inviting appraisal problems.

This is important: overpricing a home can ultimately lead to selling a home for less than it would have if it had been priced correctly when it was first listed. Your trusted REALTOR® will have your best interests in mind when advising you on how to properly price your home. Remember that the REALTOR® Code Of Ethics requires a REALTOR® to “protect and promote the interests of their client. The obligation to the client is primary…” [Article I, Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the National Association of REALTORS®].

Sellers may be tempted to use data-driven value estimators (think Zillow’s Zestimate, etc.) to justify a certain selling price. While those estimators may be a start, there is no substitute for the experience and expertise of a trusted local REALTOR® to help a seller correctly price a home.

Interested in obtaining an estimate of your home’s value (and seeing the reason why contacting a REALTOR® is important to accurately pricing your home)? Enter your property address below to instantly obtain estimates for your home. No cost and no obligation.

2. Is the condition of the property attractive to buyers?

Long before your house goes on the market, your agent should give you an honest assessment of your home’s condition and tell you what buyers will think when they view your home. Does your home need cleaning? Decluttering? Updating? Will a buyer be put off by “unique” paint colors or funky smells? Does the property have the right curb appeal? Your REALTOR will provide many suggestions to help you create a space that will appeal to the majority of buyer.

RE/MAX Alliance provides some excellent tips for decluttering, including

“Bring a friend, a RE/MAX Alliance professional agent or house stager to help point out overlooked problem areas of clutter. When you live in a space, you get used to a space. You don’t see what others see. Trust their advice.”
“Put away family photos, souvenirs, knick-knacks and personal items. These items are special to you, but the prospective buyer wants to envision their own personal items in your space. So, help them out.”
“Clear off counters, especially in kitchens and bathrooms, storing away small appliances and miscellaneous personal items. Scrub down the surfaces and perhaps even put out a bouquet of flowers.

Your home should look like you cared for it. RE/MAX Alliance has these and other helpful tips to show buyers your home is well-cared for:

“Ensure all plumbing fixtures are clean and in good working order. Outfit leaky faucets with new washers and clean any visible stains on porcelain fixtures. Replace old, worn shower curtains and bath mats.”
“A fresh coat of paint instantly transforms a space, helping it to look neat, clean, and up-to-date. Always fix obvious wall imperfections like cracks and nail holes, before painting. Steam clean carpets and runners, and repair any chipped or loose floor tiles.”

Nothing is more important than first impressions. Buyers should be eager to look at the inside of your home based on what it looks like on the outside. Don’t give buyers any reason to feel uneasy when they drive up. RE/MAX Alliance provides these and other tips to entice buyers to take a flyer, tell their agent about your home, or provide the perfect start to a showing:

“Consider planting a few bushes and colorful mature flowers to create an eye catching display. Ensure that your lawn is well manicured: mowed, watered and void of brown spots.”
“If it’s spring or summer, plant colorful containers to flank your entrance. If it’s autumn, rake leaves. During winter, clear the snow and ice from your walkway. Whatever the season, look closely to determine if any repairs are needed. All loose cement or rotting wood should be replaced.”

You might also consider consulting with a professional stager, who can work their magic to making a space feel warm and inviting. Your REALTOR® should be able to provide names of experienced designers and stagers who can help sell a home quickly…and for more money.

Conclusion

Accurate pricing and an appealing (not appalling) property condition are two key ingredients to making sure your home will attract serious buyers willing to write a contract. Sellers should carefully consider the sage advice of a trusted REALTOR® whose honest opinions about price and property condition could mean the difference between selling your house quickly and having your house sit on the market.