Low Cost Tips to get Top Dollar
The holidays are officially over and the cold, wet winter days are in full effect😢. If your natural response to this time of year is to stay inside and hunker down as much as possible, I totally understand. However, why not take full advantage of this slower time to get your home ready to sell for top dollar when the sun finally does come back out? If you have been thinking about listing your home in 2020, then getting started now is a fantastic idea. We are currently in a seller’s market, where inventory is low and competition for homes is very high. There are plenty of sellers who will do the bare minimum knowing that their home will sell because buyers have fewer options. And in many cases, they are correct. But putting in some extra effort, starting early, and making thoughtful and meaningful updates to your home, will set you apart from all the others AND get you top dollar!
Here are 4 simple, and inexpensive tips to help get you started and sell your home for top dollar in 2020:
1. Declutter
This is probably the easiest and you would think the most obvious thing to do prior to selling your home. But, you’d be surprised how many sellers do not do this before they list. In my experience, when you enter a home that is cluttered and cramped with objects; it’s a big red flag for buyers. They tend to assume that since the home is cluttered and unkempt that there must be other, more serious, issues with the home as well. This could easily lead to them passing on your home, or offering you a lower price, based on the doubts that they have about the home. We want to avoid those thoughts and beliefs at all costs, and decluttering early is an easy and free way to do that!
2. Paint
Painting the interior of your home is an improvement that goes a long way in the overall presentation of your home to would-be buyers. Having a well chosen, fresh interior paint coat in the home works on a couple of levels. First, it will definitely stand out in the photos of the home online, especially if the photos are professionally taken. The second reason it works well is more subconscious. Almost everyone knows what new paint smells like, and if you walk into a home and can smell that it has fresh paint, it makes you feel more comfortable about that home and its owners. Never underestimate the power of smell when selling your home!
3. Carpets
The second cost-efficient upgrade to the interior of your home are carpets. Whether your carpets just need a deep clean, or if you think your home would benefit from all new carpets, you really can’t go wrong here. Carpets are very similar to painting, in that, they are great bang for your buck. If you pair new paint with clean or new carpets, then you really are getting maximum ROI!
4. Staging
Staging your home, in my opinion, is one of the most important things you can do in order to make sure that it stands out from the competition. Thoughtful and well executed staging allows buyers to see how the home looks furnished, while also showing off the space and other strengths the home has to offer. The difference between and vacant and staged home is very night-and-day. Staging, however, can be pretty costly. If it does not fit you budget I would recommend you try to take some of that on yourself. Searching through Instagram, Pinterest as well as other well-staged homes that are currently for sale in your area for inspiration (or you can check out some of my past listings here).
Make Your Best First Impression
These are certainly not your only options, and there are additional ways to make your home stand out from the others (call me for those!) But when it comes to selling your home, there is one timeless piece of advice we all can agree on: “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” You want to make the best possible first impression online and in person with potential buyers. My goal is to get you at least one great offer -- and hopefully several to choose from!
Now What?
Listing your can be home tough and very stressful. I’ve had great success with my clients utilizing the above strategies to get them the best return for their home. Every scenario is different and every seller has different needs and financial constraints. It’s very important to understand the process and to work with your Realtor who will take your needs into consideration. If you’d like to discuss your options further or if you have any questions about the home-selling process I’m happy to help! Give me a call or shoot me a text at 253-882-7974 or visit my profile page here.
