Selling your home can be both emotionally challenging and time-consuming. The average selling time of listed homes is around 46-55 days, depending on several factors. These factors include your home’s location, price, age and condition, market exposure, upgrades and updates, competition, market condition, and economic indicators. Here are some tips to follow if you don’t want your home to linger in the listings for long.
1. Tidy up your home
Clutter hides your home’s best features and makes the rooms look smaller. Box up the things that you don’t need and remove unnecessary furniture. Unclutter kitchen workspaces, tidy out drawers and cupboards and get rid of oversized pieces. Freeing up spaces in your home can be a stressful process if you don’t have enough storage. Consider moving your extra belongings into a storage unit while your home is on the market.
2. See your home through the buyers’ lens
You see your home as a beautiful castle, but the moment you put it on the market, you should start viewing it from the buyers’ perspective. The country-style interiors that you’ve cultivated for years might be a deal killer if your buyers do not share the same taste. Allow them to envision the house as their family’s home, not yours. Neutralize it by removing political and religious items, family pictures, personal collections, and other items that may scare them off.
Repaint the walls with neutral colors and keep the decor simple. Imagine that you are seeing your home for the first time and take a long and honest look around. Take note of the things that you, as a buyer, would notice, then replace or renovate the items on your list.
3. Spruce up your home exterior
Prospective buyers first see your landscape, and it heavily impacts their first impression. It may even determine their interest in viewing your home. Most buyers, if not all, want an inviting, well-kept, and beautiful home exterior. Good landscaping improves your home’s curb appeal and entices drive-by buyers to look closer. They may initially have a slight interest in your home but later may give it a serious consideration once they step on a thick carpet of St. Augustine or get a glimpse of your beautiful yard flowers.
On the other hand, a neglected lawn or unkempt garden will make potential buyers think that the exterior is as bad as the inside of your home. It may be gratifying to DIY your entire yard, but hiring home landscaping services could be a better option. Envisioning a stunning landscape is easy, but it takes a lot of time and requires hard work. Unless you are an experienced landscape designer, it is wise to let the professionals do the job.
4. Clear household odors
Different scents impact our perceptions of situations, places, and people. Odors from cigarette smoke, pets, trash, mold, dirty laundry, and spoiled food are the top way to scare away a potential home buyer. You’re probably accustomed to the scents in your home if they have been present for weeks or months. It is best to have an outsider walkthrough to check your home for strong and unpleasant smells. Identify the source of the odor and get rid of it before showing your home to potential buyers.
Do not mask unpleasant odors with the strong aroma of plug-ins, sprays, and candles. Artificial and intense scents do not impress home buyers because the best scent is the fresh air coming from an open window. However, if you’re compelled to add a scent, go for oils that are not too sweet-smelling, such as eucalyptus and lemongrass.
5. Showcase the best real estate photos
The majority of home buyers begin their search online. Thus, the quality of your listing photos will help you score an appointment with potential buyers. It’s tough to get them at your door without good shots that show off your home’s selling points. A study conducted by a real estate photography company says that listings with top-notch photos can sell 32% faster than those that have poor quality or average pictures. So get a real estate professional photographer who can capture the best features of your home.
6. Brighten up your home
A home’s lighting is often overlooked, but it significantly influences a buyer’s first impression of your home. When it is poorly lit, it appears small, cold, and uninviting. Maximize the light inside by cleaning and opening the windows, replacing light bulbs, and trimming outdoor shade trees.
Buyers will notice the slightest negative thing about your home and will chip away at your list price. Assure them that they are making a smart purchase with your list price so you can speed up the sale.
