Selling a home

As a Realtor, I see this situation pop up all the time in my day to day dealings with clients and potential clients. Selling your home for the maximum price in the shortest period of time is not as easy as just putting a sign in the yard and waiting for the calls to start pouring in. It takes work and commitment on the home owners part to get the house ready to sell. The current real estate market demands this!! Especially when you consider the fact that there are a lot of First Time Home buyers in the market, and for the most part, are looking for a Move In Ready home. A few minor fixes are okay but first time home buyers will almost always avoid a home that is going to require any major repairs. Buyers have many homes to choose from so make sure your home is the one that stands out!

As a Realtor, I recommend a handful of simple and impactful items that a home owner can do to dramatically increase their chances of selling their home quick and for the greatest dollar amount possible.

1.) Clean, Clean, Clean!! Nothing will turn a potential buyer away faster than a dirty house that shows like it has been neglected for an extended period of time. Make sure your home is clean! Its not hard to do and does not require a great deal of skill. You just have to want to do it!

2.) Landscaping (Curb Appeal)- This is crucial in that it is the first element of the home that a potential buyer sees as they approach the home. The curb appeal of a home is a great indicator to the buyer as to what the condition of the home might be like on the inside. Keep the yard cleaned up, mulched, free of limbs and leaves, and make sure you have some nice shrubs and plants. The first impression is everything in getting your home sold!

3.) Paint- If the walls, trim and baseboards of your home are beat up looking, take the time to spruce it up! Painting is easy and very cost effective. So, if you are serious about selling your home and want to get the greatest amount of money possible for it, then paint your home BEFORE you put it on the market for sale. You will be glad you did!!

4.) Heating & Cooling Systems and Appliances- Make sure that all your appliances and heating and cooling (HVAC) systems are working properly and have been serviced recently. These items present pretty major expenses for a buyer if they are not in working order or have no history of service.

There are obviously many other things you could do in addition to these to get your house ready to sell, but the four items above are a great place to start.

You can contact me anytime for more information and tips on selling your home.