How To Get Your House Ready To Sell For Top Dollar

Jan 28, 2020Homes Selling

You might think that listing your house for sale is as easy as doing a deep clean, and choosing the right realtor.

But the truth is, there are a number of proven methods for ensuring that your home not only sells quickly, but also for top dollar. 

According to Home Light, 

“Having your home sit on the market is more than just frustrating—it’s probably costing you money. 

In this analysis, of the U.S. housing market, homes that sold in the first seven days sold for the list price, while homes that sat for 30 days sold for 4% below list.

The longer a listing sat, the more the sale price fell below list price. So every day that your home isn’t selling, it is, statistically, going to sell for less. “

Today, we’ve put together a list of things you can do before you list your house – from finding the right home contractor, to sprucing up your curb appeal – so it will be ready to sell fast and for top dollar. 

Give Yourself Time To Prepare Before You List

One of the more common mistakes homeowners make is listing their house before they’ve done all of the necessary preparations for readying it. 

Instead, at Bluefin, I advise my clients pick a future date that they would like to list, and then work backwards through their checklist so they can get their house up to par in time. 

When you list too early, you risk showing a house before it’s been repaired, cleaned, and staged, and you may cost yourself a buyer.

Ask Family And Friends To Do A Mock Walk Through 

No one is more familiar with a home than its inhabitants, which is why many home owners actually overlook problem areas when they’re listing their house for sale. 

That close familiarity can cause you to be blind to issues that are right under your nose!

One tactic I find useful, is to ask a friend or family member to do a walk through of your home from the outside in, as if they were house shopping, and point out any areas that they feel are turn offs. 

Take note of any issues that your pretend prospect points out, and feel free to get second or third opinions. 

The more feedback you have, the better you’ll be able to prepare for your real showing. 

Address Any Repairs With A Good Contractor

If you have any upgrades or repairs that need to be addressed before your show date, now is the time to choose the right contractor.

This task shouldn’t be taken lightly – an inexperienced contractor can end up costing you more in the long run if the work is not done correctly, or up to code. 

To find the right person for the job, start by looking at reviews or asking for recommendations in your area.

Once you have a few candidates, ask each : 

  • if they are licensed and insured
  • their estimated cost for your project
  • how long they have been in business
  • the timeline for your project
  • and photos of similar jobs

Once you have found the contractor best suited for your job, make sure a clear contract is created that includes the project’s deadline, payment terms, and any penalties or termination clauses. 

A well thought out contract will keep both you and the contractor safe. 

Paint 

While you’re addressing any repairs, it’s also a great time to add a fresh coat of paint to any rooms in need of a face lift. 

Light, neutral colors are always best when you’re trying to make a sale, so if you have any rooms painted a wild color, now’s the time to tone those down. 

Declutter, Depersonalize, and Deep Clean 

In order to show off your homes best features, you need to start with some decluttering. 

Strip all shelves, tables, and counters down to the bare minimum, and spend some time streamlining your closets so you can better show off your available storage space. 

It’s also a good idea to remove family photos, children’s art projects, sentimental knick knacks and collections, or anything else that adds too much personality to your home. 

You want any prospective buyers to be able to walk in, and picture themselves setting up the space with their personal items without the distraction of yours

Once you’ve decluttered and depersonalized, do yourself a favor and hire a cleaning company to give your house a thorough deep clean closer to show date. 

Many of these companies specialize in real estate cleaning jobs, and will do a great job cleaning areas you may never even think of. 

Pay Attention To Your Curb Appeal

According to HGTV, 

“No matter how good the interior of your home looks, buyers have already judged your home before they walk through the door. 

You never have a second chance to make a first impression. 

It’s important to make people feel warm, welcome and safe as they approach the house. 

Spruce up your home’s exterior with inexpensive shrubs and brightly colored flowers. 

You can typically get a 100-percent return on the money you put into your home’s curb appeal. 

Entryways are also important. You use it as a utility space for your coat and keys. But, when you’re selling, make it welcoming by putting in a small bench, a vase of fresh-cut flowers or even some cookies.”

Get Professional Quality Photos

You might have the most beautiful home in the world, but if your listing photos are dark and blurry, you’re not going to have much luck showing it. 

Either spend the time and energy taking great photos that highlight your homes best features, or hire a professional real estate photographer to do it for you. 

These days, the home buying process starts online, and that first impression could mean the difference between being passed over for the house up the street, or a sale. 

Bluefin Realty would love to help you get top dollar for your Silicon Valley home – Click here for a FREE Home Valuation today.