| You're going to sell your home. You could go | | | | |
| at it bald-headed, or think for a bit. | | | | 7 - Never apologise for your home. |
| Imagine you were a potential buyer; what | | | | |
| would be foremost in your mind? | | | | Your home is what it is. You should not |
| | | | apologise for that. By apologising, you give |
| Here are some simple and inexpensive ways to | | | | the buyer a reason to consider another home. |
| get the best price possible: | | | | If you are not proud of your home why would |
| | | | they want to be? If your home has problems, |
| 1 - Determine the fair market value for your | | | | then offer solutions. Never apologise for |
| house. | | | | what is yours. |
| | | | |
| The best way to sell your home is by having | | | | 8 - Work with your agent, not against them. |
| the right price. Buyers will be looking for a | | | | |
| deal. You might be looking to make some money | | | | Help your real estate agent to sell your |
| but don't over-price your home. Doing so will | | | | home. Give them the information they need and |
| ensure you don't sell it right away. A home | | | | step back. Don't go behind their back and try |
| that sits on the market too long is | | | | to sell your home. All showings should go |
| unappealing. This makes people afraid to buy | | | | through the agent. They have the experience |
| it. | | | | to get the job done. If they didn't you would |
| | | | not have hired them. |
| 2 - The front of the house is where the first | | | | |
| impression starts. | | | | 9 - Only show by appointment. |
| | | | |
| If you want to sell your home, make the front | | | | If you want to see serious buyers you should |
| look perfect. Start with the outside. Lawns | | | | have them screened. Many sellers only allow |
| should be well mown and landscaped. There | | | | showings to pre-qualified buyers. Your agent |
| should be nothing to distract the eye from | | | | can set this up. They will weed out the |
| its best features. Tidy, clean, uniform and | | | | dilettantes. If a buyer shows up without an |
| pretty should be your watchwords. The first | | | | appointment, give them your agent's card. |
| look will sway buyers towards or away from | | | | Have them set one up. |
| your home. | | | | |
| | | | 10 - Sell before you need to. |
| 3 - Remove your personal items. | | | | |
| | | | No one can give you a definite time frame to |
| Most lived-in homes have pictures and items | | | | sell your home. You should put it up for sale |
| of sentimental value. Remove them when the | | | | before you plan to move. Putting the home up |
| home is being shown. Buyers don't want to be | | | | for sale three to six months before you plan |
| attached to your memories. They will want to | | | | to move gives you leeway. Once you have a |
| see the quality of the walls, not your | | | | serious offer you can begin looking for your |
| pictures of your family or your knick-knacks. | | | | new home. You won't have to worry about |
| | | | trying to offload your home quickly. You will |
| 4 - Clear out clutter. | | | | get the price you deserve, not the price you |
| | | | must settle for. |
| Every home has clutter. If you're showing | | | | |
| your home, do your best to remove yours. | | | | 11 - Advertise. |
| Remove anything you don't need. Pre-pack and | | | | |
| place the packed items in storage. Then | | | | This should be your realtor's job. He should |
| buyers can have a better look into their | | | | have an advertising plan. Find out what it is |
| potential property. | | | | before you sign a contract. Make sure your |
| | | | home is listed in as many places as possible. |
| 5 - Keep colours neutral. | | | | A good price won't help sell your home if no |
| | | | one knows it's for sale. |
| Spruce up a home before sale by painting it. | | | | |
| Paint your home in neutral colours. People | | | | 12 - Remove emotion from the sale. |
| will shy away from a home with highly | | | | |
| coloured walls. They may not like your colour | | | | You have fond memories of your home. The |
| choices. Buyers do not want to paint the | | | | buyer will not. They will notice every flaw. |
| minute they move in. Most look for colours | | | | They will not care about your reason for |
| they can live with or mould around their | | | | selling. They will care about making a deal. |
| decorations. | | | | Make sure when you look at offers you do so |
| | | | rationally. Don't let emotions rule your |
| 6 - Keep your kitchens and bathrooms in good | | | | sale. |
| shape. | | | | |
| | | | In your mind, have already kissed your house |
| Homebuyers pay special attention to these two | | | | goodbye, and take your wonderful memories |
| rooms. They must be spotless. Keep the rooms | | | | with you. This will make the sale easier. In |
| well lit. If you have newer appliances and | | | | the end, realise that a house is a material |
| plan to leave them, have buyers check them | | | | thing, and that all such things are |
| out. They will be more interested in these | | | | transient. |
| special incentives. | | | | |