07/25/2025
Thinking about selling your house? Here are my top ten tips:
1. **Declutter and Organize**: Clear out unwanted items such as dusty flower arrangements, personal photos, and medicine bottles. Clear off countertops, as potential buyers want to envision themselves in the home without seeing your belongings. Remember that buyers will look in your closets, so box up clothes and blankets that you don't need. Organizing your linen closets can make the space appear larger and demonstrate that the house is well-maintained.
2. **Clean Thoroughly**: Ensure everything is spotless! This includes baseboards, ceiling fans, carpets, and dusting furniture. Replace any worn throw rugs and ensure that toilets and showers are immaculate. Remove all items from vanities. Avoid using heavy perfumes to mask odors, as this can signal that you're trying to conceal something undesirable, such as pet urine. Fresh linens have a pleasant, clean smell.
3. **Remove Pet Evidence**: If you have pets, make sure all signs of them are removed during showings—no pet bowls, p*e pads, or dog beds. While we love our furry friends, not everyone shares that sentiment. Never leave a pet in the house during showings!
4. **Handle Worn Furniture**: If you have broken or unsightly furniture, consider donating or removing it. Focus on presenting the space, as less is often more.
5. **Touch Up Walls**: Clean any marks or scuffs off the walls. If you need to repaint, opt for neutral colors, as they tend to appeal to a broader range of buyers.
6. **Consider a Home Inspection**: Getting a home inspection done in advance can be beneficial. Make the report available to potential buyers and note any repairs you've completed or plan to tackle.
7. **Offer a Home Warranty**: Providing a home warranty to new buyers can be a good incentive. It doesn't cost much and can be paid at closing.
8. **Gather Important Documents**: Make available to your agent any monthly power bills, taxes, HOA information, and names and contact details of services you use to maintain your home, such as gardeners, housekeepers, termite inspectors, heating and air companies, and pool companies.
9. **Boost Curb Appeal**: Regularly maintain your grass and bushes. Remove dead trees or shrubs and avoid having empty planters. Keep porches swept and paint the front door and shutters if needed.
10. **Set the Right Price**: I always conduct a thorough analysis before listing a home, considering the neighborhood, condition, and age of the house. Note that the interior decor does not always increase your home's value. A two-bedroom, one-bath home remains a two-bedroom, one-bath home, even if it features granite countertops and new carpet. Lenders consider comparisons and square footage. Additionally, a good realtor will be informed about external factors that affect the current market. My advice is to price your house with some wiggle room, but not unrealistically overpricing scares off buyers, and the number of days on the market matters. *Good Luck! Nancy Brewer- Real Estate by Sea. 980-622-5177
