Before You Plant the Sign, Plant the Flowers.
The secret to selling for more isn’t a secret. Strategic presentation is the most overlooked investment before selling.
Indulge me for a second, especially if you’re thinking about selling a property. Let’s talk about some common pitfalls sellers can easily avoid. Every Realtor knows them when they see them. Buyers? They feel them when they see them.
First impressions are everything! You are selling a feeling, a lifestyle, a dream…not just a house. When I visit a home with a visible issue that clearly needs to be repaired, and the seller says, “that’s been like that forever and it doesn’t bother me” or “if a buyer wants to fix that, they can fix that.” Red flag. That one simple item could be enough to turn a buyer off. If it’s obvious to a visitor, then it should be obvious to you!
Why "Good Enough" Costs You Money. Trying to avoid the time, effort, and money to spruce the home up when getting ready to sell usually means you will inevitably spend that time, effort, and money (anyway) after you’ve been on the market for 30 plus days, and by then, you’ve already sold yourself short. You’ve lost the opportunity to sell for the most possible.
Deep clean the home! At the very least (and easiest), no excuses will do with this one. The property should be as clean as possible. Dirt, dust, and clutter make a buyer wonder, how bad was it in here, if this is how they present it for sale? Let’s think about the front door for a second, as a simple example — is the lock working properly? Is there any chipped paint on the door or door frame? Are there cobwebs, dead bugs? What’s the doormat look like? Should we keep going, as we enter…
What does the home smell like when they enter?
What do your cabinet fronts look like? Splatters?
Windows! Consider having them professionally cleaned — what difference this makes!
Return air vents, are they covered and caked in sticky dust and grime? Your bathroom ceiling vent too?
The risers on your stairs? Magic eraser or a little touch up paint.
Dirt, scuffs, grease and grime — scrub, magic eraser, or touch-up paint or paint pen!
Those are some obvious, easy fixes! Yes, it will take time and effort, but it will be worth it. Just do it! Get to it!
Now, some other obvious things to consider…do you have a desk sitting in the living room or dining room? This says to a buyer, there’s clearly not enough room in this house for a dedicated office space, it’s crammed in here. Move that to its own space or get rid of it for photographs and showings. Same with closets. Are they stuffed? This says to a buyer, there’s definitely not enough storage in the this house. Move that stuff. Store it somewhere or better yet purge, pitch, donate.
Get the picture? You are selling a feeling, a lifestyle, a dream…not just a house.
And don’t forget curb appeal, if it isn’t appealing when you drive by, not many people will want to see the inside.
Interested in a pre-sale guide or a pre-sale walkthrough with me — send me a message today.
