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5 STEPS TO GETTING THE HIGHEST OFFER
Are you getting ready to put your house up on the market?
Follow these 5 steps and learn how to receive the highest and best offers!
I have been working with buyers for years now; and time after time I have seen houses get passed up and forgotten because sellers have not prepared correctly.
Think like a buyer when you are getting ready to fix up your house, and decide on what updates would be important to you if you were walking through your home at an open house.
Bellow I will list off the 5 things you can do to make sure you receive the highest and most offers, on your listing.
5 Things to do before putting your home on the market:
1. Kitchen: If you have the opportunity to put some money into your home before selling it, the kitchen is the best place to start! The number one thing most buyers will spend money on is an updated kitchen that is move in ready.
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Painting cabinets or entirely changing them can transform a kitchen!
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Adding a cool back splash, that will match with any accent colors is a great way to make your kitchen look brand new, and stand out above the rest. (Try sticking with whites and grays to be safe)
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Lighting is not very expensive! Don't date your beautiful kitchen with something so easy to fix!
2. Fresh Paint Job: When you're serious about selling your house, you now want to make the house ready for a new family. Give your walls a fresh coat of paint and make sure the house flows! Don't leave little Jessica's walls yellow or Stevie's walls fire truck red, make the house neutral giving buyers the chance to imagine the house as their own.
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This is most times one of the least expensive updates with great returns.
3. Pay for Inspections: Something as simple as a pest inspection or a home inspection can wreak havoc on the sale of a house. At minimum get a pest and home inspection done before putting your home on the market. Read through the inspections and if any major issues appear in the reports, consider fixing the problems to assure your new buyers a steady and sound home.
Other inspections to highly consider:
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Roof Inspection
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Sewer lateral (some city ordinances require it)​
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Chimney Inspection
*Some companies will give you a free roof inspection when you order a home and pest inspection.*
4: Get a Stager, Trust Me: A stager once painted it in the simplest picture for me, "You wouldn't purchase a homemade, unfrosted, undecorated cake for the same price as a professionally handcrafted wedding cake would you? " No way! Many sellers tend to think their worn-in furniture and scuffed tables will go unnoticed and make no difference. I hate to break it to you but buyers do notice. Your furniture may be comfy and cozy but in the end buyers will feel more inclined to spend more money on a home that looks like it came out of a catalogue.
5. Curb Appeal: Last but not least, trim back those bushes, power wash your driveway, and mow your lawn! You can't redo a first impression and weeded lawns with junk in the driveway will not make a good one. Spend some money to plant some fresh flowers, and add some fresh mulch to brighten up your yard. Now you will at least get buyers through the door to view the rest of your newly updated house!
#6 Is a freebie: Call a Realtor! Realtors have the access to amazing marketing tools, the MLS, and all the legal documents you NEED when selling your house.
On average FSBO listings take longer to sell and sell for less. Think of it like this, you wouldn't buy a new I-pad at a garage sale for the same price as you would at the apple store would you? Of course not, even if the seller could prove it was brand new and in perfect condition! Why is this? Because one, it is not a professional setting. Two the seller has motive to stretch the truth about the state of the I-pad to get more money from the buyer. And three because buyers shop at garage sales to find deals, just like buyers do with For Sale by Owner homes.
Find my contact information at the bottom of this web page and give me a call for a Free listing consultation. Time to get your house SOLD!
WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO START LOOKING TO BUY A HOUSE
In consideration of the calendar, all year round is a good time to buy a home. Depending on your situation however, some seasons may appeal to you more.
Summer: Families with children — typically on the lookout for larger homes with great curb appeal and safe backyards — tend to house hunt when kids are out of school, and when properties are green and lush. Seeing their kids playing outside can be a real motivator for potential buyers who, to minimize disruption to the upcoming school year, may jump at something that’s move-in ready. But it may not be the best time to buy: prices increase during the
Autumn: Some real estate experts will tell you that the best time to buy a house is the first week of autumn, just after the height of the summer selling season. With kids back in school, cheaper vacation packages, and the holidays approaching. Prospective homebuyers find less competition, more price cuts, and more unsold inventory from which to choose. It’s a great time to house hunt. And buyers making offers in November and December often get great deals.
Winter: Is it worth waiting until winter to make an offer? Possibly. You’ll see prices drop on homes of all types between January and March, and much less foot traffic — especially in colder climates — so there’s less chance of bidding wars or multiple offer situations. Unfortunately, all those homes sold in autumn means that inventory also drops in the winter. But sellers who keep their homes on the market at this time are often motivated to make a deal.
Spring: During the springtime you’ll find plenty of homes on the market. And although it’s a great time to buy new construction, every available condo and house seems to be spruced up in their search for top-dollar bids. They don’t call it “spring cleaning” for nothing. But open houses will be crowded, and bidding wars are common for choice properties. ​
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