Selling your home can be a very daunting task. The key to a successful sale is all in the presentation: home staging. Give your home the best chance at selling by making it look its best.
No need to go crazy with renovations, however. Ther's lots you can do as a seller to increase the odds. Learn how to showcase your home with these 10 helpful home staging tips, from real estate experts. You'll be that much closer to nailing a SOLD sign on your front lawn.
Get a Home Appraisal
Hiring an independent home appraiser to determine the value of your home is a great idea, especially if you plan on selling your home on your own. This way, there's no second-guessing the true value of your property, and means you can be certain on whether or not you are getting the best price for your home.
Do Your Research
Before you ever consider putting your house on the market, be sure to know all the answers to all of the important aspects of your home. How much are taxes? What is the size of the lot? Square footage of the house? What is the average cost of utilities per month? Knowing the answers to these vital questions, and having that information readily available for potential buyers and your real estate agent will make all of the difference.
Make a List of Your Home's Best Features
A very helpful way to determine the selling features of your home is to create a list of things that you're most likely to miss. Are you a gourmet chef who loves the island in your kitchen? Can't live without the over-sized deck in the summertime? Was your open floor plan great for entertaining? Features that you once appreciate/d, will also appeal to your potential homebuyers and are definitely worth mentioning.
Hire a Building Inspector
Learn and fix potential problems before your property hits the market to avoid unnecessary headaches down the line. Keep in mind that homebuyers often hire home inspectors as well, and having potential problems identified and fixed prior to selling your home could be the difference of thousands of dollars or even a sale. A home that seems less move-in ready could deter your buyers.
Track Recent Repairs
What have recent repairs been done to the house? Has the home been updated? Did you build an addition to your home? How much did these cost? When were they installed into your home? These are important things to know as everyone from borrowers, to buyers, to your agent will likely be asking. Specific updates worth noting include a new roof, central air, furnace, or hot water tank. Be sure to keep receipts as proof, and be sure to mention these as selling points for your home.
Remove Keepsakes & Heirlooms
If you have personal items or family heirlooms that are affixed to your home, that you plan on taking with you, it's probably a good idea to remove them prior to putting your house on the market. Once an offer is made, it is more difficult to negotiate these items off of the sale. So if you have an antique chandelier or your favourite wall sconce you cannot see yourself parting with, remove and store these items until you the house is sold.
Let There Be Light
Replacing light bulbs to a higher wattage can brighten up any home and give the impression of a more spacious home. Be careful never to go over a light fixture's wattage limit, as this can pose a fire hazard. Another great tip? Add a drop of vanilla extract to your light bulbs just before a showing to add a pleasant smell during an open house.
Clean Out Your Gutters
This is especially important in areas that receive lots of rain. Weather can be unpredictable, and all it takes is one bad rainstorm to create an unsightly downpour of water from your gutters. Make sure they are cleaned out as a clogged gutter reflects poorly on home maintenance.
Don't Come On Too Strong
Sellers can sometimes come off as too desperate when they list every single home feature to potential buyers. This can deter buyers can hurt you when attempting to negotiate a sale price. Take a back seat on the sales pitch and leave this in the experienced hands of your real estate agent. Besides, isn't that what you are paying them for?