6 Dos And Don'ts To Selling A House For The Best Value

dos-and-donts-blog

Last year, Ryan Homes at Brunswick Crossing informed homeowners How To Sell Your Home In 5 Steps. Now, we are giving you the truth about the dos and don’ts when it comes to selling a house, from pricing and marketing to documenting and decluttering:

  • Don’t ask for too much money. Financial planner Ellen Derrick of LearnVest, a personal financial company based in New York City, told Forbes that it doesn't matter what's in your home or what your mortgage is. A knowledgeable listing agent knows the local market, which determines the price range for homes like yours. Pricing your home too high discourages interested buyers from making a reasonable offer, while pricing it too low doesn't give you the best value for your home. 

    Instead, you should get a comparative market analysis, which takes into account any pricey renovations, location to amenities, and current housing market trends. Based on this research, you should have a ballpark number of what your home is really worth.

    Expert Tip: Don't list your price with a zero at the end. Studies show that people perceive a specified price, such as $289,675, to be lower than a rounded one, such as $289,000.

  • Do commit to marketing efforts. Homeowners should use all of the marketing efforts available to them, which means don't rely solely on word-of-mouth. Work with your chosen listing agent to dive into Internet and social media advertising, a front-yard “For Sale” sign, open houses, postcards, and more. Overall, the more people who see your home, the better your chances are of selling it for the best price.

  • Don’t get too emotional. It's understandable if you get attached to your home. It could be because your family grew up there, or you poured sweat and tears into renovating a few rooms. However, in order for potential buyers to envision themselves in it, you have to look at your home neutrally while making the space as big as possible. You should commit to little chores like:

    • Repaint the walls white or a soft tan
    • Remove family photos and fridge magnets
    • Display subtle duvets and pillows
    • Store away knickknacks
    • Organize kitchen utensils and walk-in closets

  • Do get your documents in order. Homeowners should be able to prepare all of the necessary documentation for listing agents, attorneys, and potential buyers. This can include property paperwork, tax and utility bills, company contact information, and personal financial documents like your credit score and homeowners insurance.

  • Don’t forget to clean up. There's a huge difference between the Sunday

    decluttering of your home and staging it for potential buyers. While you should still dust, vacuum, and clean the glass, now's the time to get into the nitty-gritty projects. This should include:

    • Re-caulk bathroom and kitchen tiles
    • Purchase and install new house numbers
    • Replace outdated appliances
    • Paint the garage and front door
    • Fix broken locks, doors, drawers, and more
    • Correct leaky faucets and rusty fixtures

Expert Tip: Liven up your home before open houses by burning a seasonal candle or freshly baking. This should stimulate the positive senses of potential buyers, easily helping them envisioning their life there.

  • Do work on curb appeal. Brunswick Crossing gave homeowners tips for autumn curb appeal, but you should work on it no matter the season. The exterior is the first impression of your home, so tidy it up by mowing the lawn, trimming overgrown hedges and bushes, watering flowers, and painting the mailbox. For more tricks, check out Easy, Breezy, Beautiful: Curb Appeal.