Selling your home is one of the largest financial transactions most people will ever be a part of, and most people only do it a handful of times throughout their lives. While the process can be complicted, proper research and preparation can help you maximize the money you make from the sale of your home, but unfortunately, there are also many common mistakes that people make, resulting in a selling price much lower than expected. Don’t overlook the following subjects when preparing for a home sale!
Finding the Balance When Staging
We’ve all heard the rule about removing personal artifacts before showing a home. Remove family photos, declutter the knick knacks and leave the closets as empty as possible. Failing to do this leaves potential buyers unable to picture their own lives filling up your space. However, people generally do not like to see a space that is too minimalist. Overdoing it on the decluttering can leave your home looking a bit unwelcoming. The best way to find the balance is to consult with a home staging professional to make sure you remove enough, but not too much, of your personal touches.
Neglecting Small Repairs
You’ve replaced your roof, swapped the family room carpet for hardwood and planted shrubbery throughout the front yard, so you’re done right? Kudos to everyone who takes care of major repairs and upgrades prior to listing their home, but don’t forget the small repairs while handling the larger ones. A freshly painted interior sets a good impression, but not if you skip the trim. Your new roof is a wise investment, but won’t look as appealing if your gutters are beat up and detached from the house. Give equal attention to the small details when doing repairs.
Know Your Home’s Value
Do your research to be sure you have an accurate idea of your home’s value. Look up recent sales in your neighborhood and itemize your value-adding renovations. Your agent will assist you greatly in setting a sales price for your home, but any information you can give them will help you both settle on the correct amount. Overpricing a home due to unrealistic expectations will only hurt you in the end, as buyers will assume you are getting increasingly desperate as you lower the price repeatedly down the line. Meanwhile undervaluing your home may lead to a quick sale, but you’ll also lose money unnecessarily.
Spring for Professional Photos
You may be correct in your believe that buyers will fall in love with your home when they see it, but you have to get them to come see it first, and out-of-focus, amateur-looking photos in your listing won’t bring them out to see it in person. A professional photographer who specializes in photos for real estate listings is your best bet for including enticing pictures in your listing. The right time of day, proper lighting and creative angles can make a world of difference in making your home more appealing.