Selling your home is one of the most challenging things that you must do as a homeowner. Parting with the space that facilitated so many of your most precious memories can be heart-wrenching, and it is often made even worse by a low turnout at open houses and minimal interest on your first listing. Many homeowners find that they have to take the property off the market and conduct renovations in order to attract potential buyers who are interested in purchasing the property.
Start to evaluate your home in relation to the market.
Refocusing your evaluation on the larger market is a great way to take stock of the property that you are offering to potential buyers. As a seller, there are a number of things to do before selling your house, and making stylistic upgrades that match with the current market trends should be one of the highest priorities on that list.
Rather than thinking about your home as the vessel for all those great memories, and as a place of relaxation and family comfort, it‚Äôs a good idea to reframe your view of the property as a purely capital investment in order to maximize its price point. Eliminating noises around the house with the upgrade of your water heater, HVAC system, boiler, and other appliances is one great way to infuse new capital value into the property. Even small appliances can emit a maddening hum that home buyers won’t want t deal with. Replacing the furnace, aging gutters, and pipes will help make for a modern and quiet home that a potential buyer will enjoy for the coming years.
Homeowners in the United States stay in a home for an average of about thirteen years, so many buyers have become exacting about their hopes and desires for any home that they are considering buying. These updates are household repairs that you shouldn’t put off more generally and are sure to increase the value of your home, but by focusing on them as you prepare for a sale you have a good chance of tackling many of the concerns that your average buyer is likely to raise during the inspection and negotiation process.
Let your realtor stage the property for maximum impact.
Real estate agents are pros at staging and advertising a seller‚Äôs property to potential buyers. You could sell the home on your own, saving yourself the 5-6% commission that is typical for realtor fees at closing; however, by choosing to sell the home yourself without this professional help you will have to do all the heavy lifting on your own. Real estate agents are well versed in identifying any lingering problems that will affect your ability to sell, like a home repair that didn‚Äôt quite eliminate old water damage in the attic, mold growth in the basement, or partially exposed wiring behind the water heater that you simply missed during the installation process. Realtors are also experts at maximizing your home‚Äôs curb appeal. With the help of a landscaper, your real estate agent can transform the exterior fa√ßade of your home and create the sensation of a totally upgraded home for prospective buyers. It‚Äôs always a good idea to place your trust in a competent and professional realtor for these upgrade tips, especially if you’re selling an older home.
Realtors are also able to stage homes in a professional and tasteful manner. By removing the clutter of your belongings from the space, prospective buyers are able to traverse the interior of the home and envision themselves living and spending time in the home. This is the fastest way to close a deal.
Leaning on the expertise of a real estate agent and transforming your thought process about the home itself is essential when looking to sell a home and move on to a bigger or better new house for your family.