Preparing Your Home for Maximum Value
How much your home sells for can depend on you. Proactive home sellers can increase their home sales price – and their chances for successful closing – with just a little extra effort. Selling a home is a negotiation between buyer and seller. Home sellers want to get the highest value for their home yet it’s up to buyers to make the final offer. In the best cases closing on a home can take weeks; often longer. During this time, the bank or lending institution may find reasons to deny a loan, and buyers can determine to walk away from the deal completely. This can leave sellers back at square one, creating more costs while looking for another potential buyer to start over again.
There’s a lot more to selling a home than placing an ad or putting up a sign. There’s a lot that home-sellers can do to influence how buyers perceive a home. This helps increase potential sales price and the likelihood of successful closing. Appealing to a buyers sense of value can drive up the final selling price of a home. Creating a confident buy will increase your chances of closing. If you’re planning on selling your home this year, take note. Before creating a listing learn how to help get the maximum value for your property.
Get a Professional Appraisal
The first question when selling a home is usually, “how much should I sell my home for?” It’s a good question, and coming up with an answer can be a challenge. The right asking price can attract buyers, drive up home sales, and ensure a smooth closing process. For many people, the first reaction is consulting their county tax office for the property tax value. This is a mistake. The county and home-buyers view homes and property through very different lenses. Your first step in determining price is pushing that number directly out of your thoughts. The second step is to get an appraisal.
A professional appraisal can put a real dollar amount on the value of a home, and help establish the right asking price, to begin with. This can help home sellers make confident decisions when courting buyers and can help close the deal. Appraisals are part of obtaining a home loan and will be part of the buyer’s closing process. Banks unhappy with an appraisal amount can choose to pull funding, even weeks into a sale. Rather than risk surprises, conduct an independent appraisal before listing your home.
Perform a Home Pre-Inspection
During a home purchase, buyers are going to request a professional inspection of the home. That person’s job is to try and find fault with the home. If the home inspector returns with a long list of corrections it will likely affect the perceived home value for buyers. Buyers want to feel confident about purchasing a new home. Help inspire that confidence by correcting any defects beforehand, and making any repairs. Beating buyers to home inspections can empower home sellers and limits the chances for surprises during the closing process.
Beyond making repairs, performing a remodel is a great way to increase real and perceived value. New tile, appliances, paint and more can all make a positive impression on buyers. When prepping the house for sale, look for opportunities to remodel and update the home wherever possible. Bathrooms and kitchens are hot spots for buyers, and a new look can help make a sale. The more repairs and updates completed prior to listing, the better the chances to sell for maximum value.
Make the Right First Impression
You only get one chance to make a first impression. Buyers are going to be looking at more than structural and mechanical aspects of the property, they will be looking at the cosmetics. Color, scent, and texture can all leave an impression on buyers, consciously and otherwise. Tastes vary, and the wrong first impression can send buyers packing. The right home staging is enough to help buyers visualize a home’s potential while leaving enough room for the imagination.
A professional home stager knows how to design spaces with furniture, art, and more to drive buyer interest. In fact, 95% of homes with a professional staging sell in 11 days or fewer after listing, and for 17% more than their counterparts. Compared to an average of 90 days on the market for homes without staging, the difference is significant. A local realtor can help connect you with home staging agencies in your area.
Beyond staging, small details can make a difference with buyers. A coat of paint, proper landscaping, and minor repairs can all add to the perceived value. It’s beneficial to get a second set of eyes involved. For help selling your home for the best price, contact a local real estate agent. A real estate agent can help establish the right asking price for a home, prepare a home for sale, and connect with buyers to sell your home for maximum value. Realtors help people buy and sell homes each day. Call a local real estate agent for help preparing, showing, and selling your home today.
