There are lots of different points of views on when and how to sell your home. We are often asked what are the best things we can do to get the most value for our home when the time comes to sell it? Beyond the obvious, which is keeping it clean and de-cluttered, we've come up with 4 key things you can do and consider when selling your home. These tips are especially important and true in the environment we are in today, with the global economy turned upside down, massive job losses, and the need for extreme social distancing due to the Corona Virus, which causes the COVID-19 disease.
This is part of a continuing series of articles and helpful tips and insights into helping you sell your home by Nick Santoro and Joe Santoro of Personal Property Managers. Personal Property Managers specializes in real estate sales and marketing, home downsizing, content clean out and removal and estate sales, and services Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
How a home looks and feels to a potential buyer can make all the difference.
Spring is the biggest season in the real estate market, and while many in the area may be about to put their homes on the market, there are some practices to keep in mind when doing so, says Nick Santoro of Personal Property Managers.
How a house is presented can influence how long the house will sit on the market and even how much money the seller can sell the house for.
Santoro said there are many small things that a seller can do to make sure the house is not on the market for a long period of time.
Nick says "you only have one chance to make a first impression, and making a good first impression can go a long way in selling your house."
If potential buyers feel comfortable in a house and can see themselves living there, they are more likely to buy or consider the house.
Here are four tips we often share with our clients on how sellers should present their homes when looking to sell:
1. De-clutter and keep your home as clean as possible
This may seem simple, but people touring the house like to see clean and polished homes. Little things such as if the burners are dirty or if the light switches have smudges on them can really turn a buyer off.
A lot of times it's the little things that can make a big difference in buyers' minds. For example, things such as stains in the carpet, dirty appliances and clutter lying around the house should be taken care of before showing the house.
Since people selling the house will soon be moving, now is when sellers should start cleaning their house and getting rid of unnecessary items.
We encourage people to not clutter up their houses by putting all of these items in one spot, such as a garage or basement because potential buyers have trouble looking past the mess.
If the house is cluttered, sometimes people will wonder what else on the property hasn't been taken care of.
2. Don't forget to do a pre-sell Home inspection
One of the most important things a potential seller can do is get a full home inspection prior to putting the house on the market. Joe Santoro, of Personal Property Managers points out that even if there is a meeting of the minds between the buyer and seller as to price, and bank approvals are in place, a buyer home inspection can bring to light many things that need to be addressed. This is often the time when most deals blow up. Many times sellers are insulted with a home inspection report and buyers feel that all items identified in the inspection report need to be addressed by the seller. This could run into the thousands of dollars. Thus, we advise sellers to spend the money to get a home inspection in advance of putting their home on the market to be pro-active in addressing these issues.
Since most sellers put their houses on the market three to six months before selling, an early home inspection can give early warning signs about potential repairs or problems with the house.
If you find out ahead of time, it's easier to make those repairs and get the house ready; you don't want the new owners thinking you cut corners.
Making repairs on the house after the fact can delay the closing and cause more headaches in the long run.
3. The Importance of Curb appeal
Things such as landscaping can give homes high curb appeal, making them take less time to sell. While sellers may not get the same value back that they spent on how the house looks, it does make a big difference in the eyes of potential buyers.
Nick says that when the house looks nice on the outside, it sets the tone for what is on the inside. Trees make a big difference in both providing shade for the yard but also by providing a more homey feel.
A well-taken care of yard will do wonders for potential sellers. Even if it's minor fixes such as mowing the grass or painting the shutters, potential buyers will enjoy the house's curb appeal.
4. The Importance of Blank Walls
Lastly, one thing potential buyers try to do when touring a home is picturing themselves at that particular residence.
One way to help them do that is by taking personal photos off of the refrigerator and walls.
By removing personal objects, the person walking through can imagine his or her family photos on the walls and not someone else's.
People want to imagine living there, by taking things off the walls, they're able to do that more easily.
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For more information on real estate or home downsizing please contact Nick Santoro or Joe Santoro of Personal Property Managers at 215-485-9272 or 908-368-1909. Personal Property Managers specializes in helping home owners transition from their home of many years into a new community. Personal Property Managers services Pennsylvania and New Jersey and offers downsizing services, estate sales services, home staging, discount full service real estate services via its association with EveryHome Realty. Learn more about Personal Property Managers from our recent News Stories.
