7 More Essential Tips That Get Homes Sold Fast (And For Top Dollar)
Selling your home is one of the most important steps in your life. Here are 7 more essential tips you must know…..This guide is written with one goal in mind: to give you the tools you need to maximize your profits, maintain control, and reduce the stress that comes with the home selling process.
(Part two in a three part post by Pam Larkin. See part one.)
Tip # 9 Clean like you’ve never cleaned before.
Pick up, straighten, unclutter, scrub, scour, dust … well, you get the idea. If your living room feels crowed, take out every piece of furniture you can get away with. If your home still isn’t ready to appear in House Beautiful, then clean some more. Remember, you’re not just competing with other people’s homes-you’re going up against brand-new homes as well.
Tip # 10 Fix everything no matter how insignificant it may appear.
The step that squeaks, the light switch that doesn’t work, the hairline crack in the bathroom mirror-they might be minor annoyances to you, but they can also be deal-killers. The problem is that you never know what will turn a buyer off. Even something minor that’s gone unattended can suggest that perhaps there are bigger, less visible problems present as well.
Tip # 11 Remove all traces of you from your home.
When you toured other people’s homes, you may have felt some discomfort. The probably occurred because you saw, heard or otherwise sensed something that made you feel as if you were intruding into someone’s life.
The last thing you want others to feel in visiting your home is that same sense of discomfort. Avoid this by making your home as neutral as possible. Anything that interferes with a prospective buyers’ ability to see themselves living in your home must be eliminated. A few carefully chosen knickknacks and family portraits may add warmth and character to the home, too many are a distraction. Avoid unique or trendy color schemes-paint and carpet in neutral shades of white or beige.
Tip # 12 The little touches can make a difference.
While personal items can detract, other small touches can help make your house a home to buyers. A well placed vase of flowers, accept pieces of sculpture, potpourri in the bathroom – all can enhance the attractiveness of your home in a subtle, soft-spoken way. Try perusing any of the home magazines for tips.
Tip # 13 Don’t let a smell be your downfall.
Odd smells kill deals quickly. All traces of food, pet and smoking odors must be eliminated. Even when you’re sure they’re gone, don’t encourage prospective buyers to imagine things. If they know that you’re a smoker or that you have a dog, they’ll start smelling odors and seeing strains that may not even exist.
Tip # 14 Disclose everything.
Smart sellers proactively go above and beyond the laws to disclose all known defects to their buyers in writing. If the buyer knows about a problem, he can’t come back with a lawsuit later on.
Pam Larkin, First Weber Group Wausau-Rib Mountain
Thank you for reading the First Weber Wisconsin real estate blog for information on essential tips for home selling for top dollar. For specifics on maximizing your home sale’s potential see staging tips to sell homes in Wisconsin.
photo credit http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarahandmikeprobably/4274987254/