Even though Utah is still
experiencing a strong seller's market, it's still important to do a few basic
things to be ready for those buyers!
The following article by By Ross Boissoneau gives us all some really great tips:
10 Inexpensive Ways to Sell Your
House for More
1.
All the world’s a stage
Staging a home is
just about making it more like an uncluttered luxury hotel suite and less like
your family’s home. Do it on the inside and outside and your home will probably
sell faster and for more. A good Realtor® will walk you through the staging process.
2. Find the right
professional
Sometimes
you forget the obvious: The best, smartest thing a homeowner can do is find the
right real estate agent for them. There are all kinds of pros out there,
with all kinds of approaches and personalities. So how do you find the perfect
fit? The easiest ways are also free:
- Get referrals. Obviously, the easiest step is simply to ask friends and family. Ask questions!
- Go online. If those first two options aren’t working for you, search sites like RealEstateAgent.com and Realtor.com. When you find a few agents you might like, check them out online before contacting them. Are their websites professional-looking and inviting? Do they promote their properties well? Then call them. If the conversation goes well, set up a meeting. But remember, you have to feel comfortable, because this individual is helping you sell your most expensive possession.
- Look up the licensing. States will have boards that license and discipline real estate agents in those states, says Phipps. Check with your state's regulatory body to find out if the person is licensed and if there have been any disciplinary actions or complaints.
- Research how long the agent has been in business. You can often find out how long the agent has been selling real estate from the state licensing authority. Or, you can just ask the agent. "If they haven't been in business five years, they're learning on you and that's not good," says Robert Irwin, author of "Tips & Traps When Buying a Home." (Kari has been in the business for 13 years!)
3.
Clean and de-clutter
Cleaning
is obvious – we shouldn’t even have to mention that a dirty kitchen or bathroom
will cost you customers. But clutter is another matter. Step back and try to
look at your home the way someone else would for the very first time.
And
what about the garage? If you use it to store everything but your car, clean it
out so a prospective buyer can imagine pulling their own vehicle in there.
(Although they’ll probably do just like you and use it for storage.)
4. Maximize your home’s curb appeal
Mow
the lawn. Trim the shrubs. Buy a new welcome mat. Add a hanging plant next
to your entrance, or some large terra-cotta pots filled with colorful blooms.
This is crucial - online pictures of your front door will likely be the
introduction to prospective buyers.
5. Ask a friend
Ask
a friend or your real estate agent to come in and give an honest assessment of
your home. Having someone objective look at what you see every day can yield
results regarding items or spaces you as a homeowner have become blind to.
6. Create rooms
Substituting
one room’s use for another is a cheap way to transform a three-bedroom home
with a den into a four-bedroom home. If it doesn’t have a closet, add an
armoire. Or maybe your home has a formal dining room that’s never used. Add
doors if it doesn’t have them and a freestanding wardrobe – and you’ve got an
instant main floor master bedroom.
7. Paint
Nothing
can instantly transform a room like a new coat of paint. That’s especially true
if you’re going from something dark and dingy (and scratched and dirty) to
something light, bright, and white. Painting is one of the easiest and cheapest
ways to change and improve a room’s appearance. Anyone can do it. I know,
because I have. A bedroom upstairs and the kitchen and dining room in my main
house, and two bedrooms in my parents’ home. HUGE difference.
8. Bring the outdoors in and take the
indoors out
Plant
the decorative plants not just in the ground around the deck, but inside.
Furnish your seating areas outside with things you would normally find indoors,
like soft cushions. Bridging the inside and the outdoors expands the feel of
your home.
9. Add storage
New
homebuyers are always looking for storage space. Maximize what you have by
adding a closet storage system, incorporating shelves, two-tiered hangers, and
the like. Storage doesn’t have to be deep to be useful. Open up a space between
studs and walls, install shelving, and you’ve got the perfect place for a
series of small shelves to store CDs and DVDs.
10. Lights, camera, action!
Ceiling
fixtures tend to get hung, then forgotten, which means they look dated before
long. Inexpensive replacements from a home improvement store can brighten up
the interior and make a room look more current.
Remember,
a buyer has some specific needs and desires in mind: neighborhood, number of
bedrooms and bathrooms, etc. But beyond that, buying a home is an emotional
decision. Welcoming someone to your home – hopefully their new home –
means keeping things bright, clean, uncluttered, and friendly. ~
Realtor consultations are free. It costs you
nothing to sit down with me and ask questions. I want my sellers (and buyers!) to
be informed about and comfortable with the entire process so don't hesitate to give me a call!
Kari Dye: 801-376-8404
801-376-8404
801-376-8404 