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Selling a House: Dos and Don’ts

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Don’t: Renovate

Do: Repair

Potential sellers believe that brand new hardwood floors and granite countertops will fetch them a much higher price. While it may increase the value of the house, the return most likely will not meet the investment that you made. Instead use your time and money on making repairs. Consider having a home inspection performed to quell any concerns that buyers may have. Hire professionals for larger, more difficult projects and you can handle the simpler touch-ups that need to be done. Potential buyers will lean towards a house that may need some design upgrades but lacks the need for major repairs.

 

Don’t: Settle for just any agent

Do: Your HOME-work

Listing your house with the same broker that helped you buy it over a decade ago may seem like the best way to go, but it is probably better to add them to a list of brokers that you will be interviewing for the position. Contrary to popular belief, the best broker isn’t the one that values your house at the highest price. It’s actually the person who is willing to give you a low price that might be the best choice. You want a broker who is honest and knowledgeable. They can help you get acquainted with the market, inform you on the selling process (if this is your first time selling), and educate you in the best-selling practices in today’s ever-changing real estate landscape. The more knowledge that you have, the better prepared you will be when it comes time to listing your home. Finding a Realtor that is willing and able to provide that knowledge is key to a successful sale.

 

Don’t: Add sentimental value to your asking price

Do: Price it RIGHT

Obviously, everyone wants to make the most amount of money possible; however, that amount of money may not be as much you think. Over-valuing a house, whether due to added sentimental value or an over-inflated sense of self, is a major mistake among individuals selling their home and can lead to a lower purchase price than the actual market value of a home. Sit down with your carefully chosen Realtor and come to a price point that you are comfortable with but that will also ensure the sale of your house. A lot of factors go into an asking price including: Current market conditions, market value of your home, comparable sold properties, and comparable active properties.

Teaser Alert!!! Keep your eyes peeled for a future article on how to price your home to sell.

 

Don’t: Over think staging your home

Do: Clear out the clutter

Professionals that are paid to go in and “stage” your home to sell are not prevalent on the high plains, but there is a lot YOU can do to make your house show and picture ready. Get rid of non-essentials; that means decorative vases, fake plants, and your ceramic unicorn collection. The more clutter there is in a house, the smaller your house will look. When people walk in you do not want them to think “Oh what a nice coffee table” you want them to think “This living room is huge. My coffee table will look great in here”. It’s not your house anymore, it is your PRODUCT and you want it to appeal to the most amount of people as possible.

 

Don’t: Linger

Do: Make it available

Some owners have the urge to hang around there house when people come to take a look. Whether it is because they want to see the reaction of the potential buyer when they see the bathroom remodel or because they want to make sure they don’t steal anything, it’s a bad idea. Vacate the property when a broker is showing your house. They want sell your house as much you want to sell your house, and guess what? They do it a lot more often than you. Let them do their job. Another major mistake is being stingy about who gets to see your house and when. The more people looking at your home, the better. Make it as available as possible to whomever may want to see it.

 

Don’t: Underestimate the value of a manicured lawn

Do: Boost your Curb Appeal

The view of the front of your house will be the first thing that anyone sees when looking at your home, whether  in person or online.   You want to make the best impression possible. Just mowing the lawn and trimming the edges will do wonders. Want a little extra boost? Try adding some well-placed, brightly colored flowers.

 

Don’t: Specialize

Do: Neutralize

From color to aroma, you want your home to be right down the middle in terms of taste. What you’re going for is a blank slate that any potential buyer can project their own idea of their home onto. That turquoise carpet in the living room that you love so much is going to have to go. And the cleverly painted pink and blue walls in your kids’ rooms will have to be painted over with a neutral color. You want to make it as easy as possible for the buyer to picture themselves living in your house.

 

Don’t: View your house as your home

Do: View your house as your investment

There have been a couple of references made to this concept, but it is plainly stated here. You have to remove the emotional attachment to your home and realize that it is now a house to be sold. It is no longer your domain to be master of, but rather your product that you want to sell to the masses. You’re not a homeowner, you’re an entrepreneur. You want to make the most out of your investment, and in order to do that you have to think like your consumer. What are they looking for, what do they want to see, what don’t they want to see. This is a very easy mindset for you to get into because you were (and probably are) a buyer. Think of what turned you off on a house, what you really enjoyed seeing, or maybe even highlight the features that attracted you to this house in the first place.

 

Don’t: Get Frustrated

Do: Have patience

As in all things in life, patience will be needed to sell a house. The average time that a house spends on the market in Clovis/Portales is about 5 months, so don’t panic when after 3 weeks you haven’t received an offer. If you listen to everything else listed in this article then it is only a matter of time and patience before your house sells.

 

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