For Sellers

Top 10 Tips To Get The Most Money For Your Home

1. Take care of unfinished projects
   • Taking care of small projects around the house can lead to a more cohesive and finished look of your home. Remember, you will need to disclose any known issues of the home on the Residential Seller’s Property Disclosure Statement form, so it is best to have taken care of any ongoing issues.
   • Your realtor may also be able to help you find a handyman, roofer, painter, or other vendor to fix any of the items you are unable to do yourself.
2. Declutter
   • Have you ever walked into a model home and felt like you could move in that day? That is what you want your buyers to feel when they come to your home. Try to detach yourself from your home and all the memories you have of your space and see it through the lens of a buyer. Take down personal photos, remove any nick-nacks and do your best to make your home look like a model home; minimalistic. It’s never a bad idea to rent a storage unit for any of your extra items. Think about this as your early preparation for your big move when your home has sold, and this will make the final move much easier.
3. Re-arrange furniture
   • Make your home look like a model home. If you would prefer to move all your furniture out of the home prior to selling, you may want to consider having your home, or even a few rooms professionally staged as it does make it easier for a buyer to envision the rooms.
4. Light it Up
   • Natural light can make rooms feel inviting and bigger than a dark room. Open the blinds and curtains. Be sure that blinds and windowsills are clean and dust-free. Try cleaning all windows inside and out. Maybe try adding some vinegar to your solution to get off any hard water stains on the outside windows.
5. Update Paint
   • Bright colors may be a turn off to buyers and bold colors may make the home appear dated. I suggest painting your home in neutral shades as this makes it more appealing to the mass of buyer’s and makes it easier for them to envision themselves living in your home!
6. Make your home spotless!
   • Clean, clean, clean! Walls, floors, and shelves should all be spotless. Clean your appliances also. Vacuum the carpet, have pillows fluffed and beds made.
7. Consider the season to prep your garden
   • Nobody wants to see dead plants or weeds all over the garden as they walk to the front door. Your entry is your first impression so be sure it is a good one! Clean your door and handle, place a new mat at the entryway.
8. Stage the outdoors
   • Make any extra spaces livable. Clean off outdoor furniture and arrange it so it appears staged. Remember, the location, structure, age, square footage etc. is what determines the value of the home but your attention to detail may be what anchors the sale.
9. Final Touches
   • Small details make a big impact in the eyes of a buyer. On days of showings, you may want to bake cookies prior to showings so your home smells of delicious treats or maybe you turn on your outdoor misters or pool waterfall to add to the feel of the home. If you have a home automation system, play music. Be sure to demonstrate any of the extra features of your home.
10. Find a local Realtor!
    • Find a knowledgeable and enthusiastic realtor who will help you get the most money for your home and may make suggestions on staging the home or find ways to bring more value to the buyer’s attention.
    • You many need to speak with a few realtors to find the Realtor you feel listens to you and is motivated to help you find what you are looking for.
    • Your realtor can help you find vendors to work on any unfinished projects or issues that are known and would come up on a home inspection.
    • Your realtor should look at the local market near your home and come up with the market price of your home based on recent sales and current market. It is important to price your home correctly in this evolving market. If priced too high, the home may sit on the market longer and have fewer showings.
    • A professional photographer is key in demonstrating the beauty of your home. Be sure that your agent is going to have an experienced home photographer take the photographs that will be showcasing your home. These pictures will be the first thing that will draw a buyer’s attention and are valuable pieces of marketing.
    • When your home is ready to be sell, your realtor should act. This means holding open houses for the public, neighbors, and other realtors with buyers. Your realtor should put a concise and illustrative description together for the MLS, market your home within their brokerage, and market to other media outlets.
    • Your realtor should know more about the ins and outs of your home than any other realtor bringing a buyer and should make effort to meet any buyer’s agent and buyer at the home for viewing. Not only does this protect your valuables, but it also ensures that buyers can make an informed decision about your home.
    • Your realtor should be open, honest, and timely with all communication.