The Selling Process
Pricing a home to sell
Market the property
- Homes are worth what the local market conditions will bear
- Price appropriately and measure price against the competition
- Pricing the home too high may reduce the number of interested buyers
- Pricing the home too low may create skepticism and raise unwanted questions about the home’s value
- The longer a home stays on the market, the deeper the discount may have to be off the original price
Use research and data
- REALTORS® provide explanations of market data and a comparative market analysis that includes:
- Sales price for similar nearby homes recently sold
- Prices for homes currently on and off the market
Making a home move-in ready for prospective buyers
Look at homes objectively and think like a buyer
- Make it comfortable for buyers to see themselves moving in
- Think about ways to make the home more appealing – the less buyers have to change to move in, the more the home may appeal to them
- Give potential buyers a “blank canvas” – let them see themselves adding their own flair
- Consider repainting bold or bright colored walls – remove specialty wallpaper and replace with neutral colors
Freshen up, make repairs and pay attention to detail
- Considercleaning, de-cluttering, removing personal items like pictures, making cosmetic repairs, etc.
- Front yards and doors are key to making good first impressions
- Messiness or wear and tear on the outside gives the impression that the inside may not be cared for
- Consider tidying up the house for potential homebuyers by
- Removing clutter and clearing off counters
- Washing windows and screens
- Wiping off fingerprints from light switch plates
- Mopping and waxing floors
- Clearing the stove and refrigerator/freezer
- Polishing doorknobs and address numbers
- Cleaning carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke or pet smells
- Opening windows to air out the house
- Organizing the garage – lets buyers picture their cars in the space
- Scrubbing the grout and tile in the bathroom
- Putting out fresh towels, a new shower curtain and guest soaps
- Arranging closets to show off their space