10 Tips to Successfully List and Show Your Home
Congratulations! You did it! You made the decision to list your home. This is a big step for any homeowner, which is why we’re here to help make things as easy and as seamless as possible.
As a realtor team with years of experience, numerous clients and countless sales under our belt, we’ve managed to pick up a few tricks of the trade to share with our new listers. Let’s get started.
Prep the inside and outside of your home to look camera ready.
Photos of your home are, hands down, the most important part for your online listing. Majority of the time, buyers will see the online listing first, before they physically see the home. First impressions are everything, so before you have photos taken, be sure to declutter and depersonalize — inside and out.
So, what exactly do we mean by depersonalizing? A buyer wants to be able to picture themselves inside your home, not see “you” in every corner they turn. The less pictures of you and the family, the better. Your style may not be their style, so try to keep decorations and color schemes as neutral as possible.
Give the entire interior a deep clean, this means floors, walls, ceiling fans — everything. Most buyers have a difficult time picturing themselves in the home that is either dirty or cluttered. Remove unnecessary items like that box of random holiday decorations you’ve been meaning to put in storage for months. Make sure to replace light bulbs that are out and touch up paint in high traffic areas like the kitchen, living room and hallways. The less projects the buyer sees they will have, the more likely they are to love the home!
And the outside is just as important as the inside. Start off the whole house showing experience by making a good first impression. Some simple landscaping goes a long way, so trim the shrubs, install fresh mulch, keep the lawn cut, power wash, and maybe even paint the front door.
Don’t skimp on repairs.
Even the smallest of issues can push buyers away. Whether it’s a tiny hole in the wall, a leaky faucet or a major repair like HVAC, you should consider taking care of it before you list. Occasionally, making repairs before you list can be more cost-effective than waiting for an inspection report. Many buyers are looking for turn-key homes, but if your home is not turn-key, buyers may be willing to make negotiations. Negotiations may include having the seller make repairs, offer a credit or even lowering the asking price.
Find a balance between lived-in and staged.
Don’t go crazy trying making your house look like a high-end showroom floor. Buyers want to feel at home, so soft staging is the way to go. Add a cozy throw over a chair, some flowers to the table or a bowl of lemons on the counter.
We’re sure you’ve been told at some point in your life to “Dress for Success.” This can also apply to selling a home. Depending on the price of the home, staging, or professionally decorating/furnishing a home can help bring it to life and help buyers truly visualize the space. But it’s not meant for all homes. Think about these things when considering staging:
What is the current market like? Are homes selling quickly? Are they being sold above market value? What is the cost of staging vs. the Return on Investment? Is it something commonly done in your area?
Make your kitchen the focal point of your home.
Believe it or not, your kitchen can be a huge factor in selling your house. It’s one of the most judged and inspected rooms. Doing some minor upgrades can bring a high return on investment. Consider cleaning and painting cabinets, investing in matching appliances, or even replacing dated countertops.
Lighten up dark areas of your home
Lighting is incredibly important. We’ve already mentioned replacing light bulbs that may be out, but it’s also important to maximize natural lighting! Natural light has been proven to improve your mood. Once you’ve opened all of your blinds and curtains, add additional lighting fixtures and lamps to areas that still seem dark.
Even light colored drapes, pillows, blankets and rugs can brighten up a room. Another tip to adding light — Mirrors! Mirrors reflect light and can make a room not only seem brighter but also feel bigger.
When listing as “Fully Furnished,” spell out what’s included and what’s not.
Don’t leave anything up to the imagination. If you’re listing your home as “Fully Furnished,” make sure you come up with a solid list of what’s coming with you when you leave. Put everything in writing. Buyers can back out of a contract if they later learn something they expected to be included is actually something going with the owner. If you’re completely transparent from the start, this is less likely to happen.
If you’re considering selling your home fully furnished, keep this in mind too — it’s a big selling factor and can really sweeten a deal. It can also be convenient for both the buyer and the seller. If you don’t feel like putting things in storage or spending money on movers, you won’t have to!
Be prepared for a quick move.
The market right now is incredibly fast paced. It’s important to have a moving plan before you even begin the listing process. On occasion, buyers will request a quick move-in. In return, they’ll be more open with pricing and other items in a contract. For example, someone may offer full or over asking price if they are able to move into the home right away. So before you list, decide if you need time before moving or are you able to pack up and go.
Try not to get emotional.
Don’t take it personally. Yes, easier said than done. If you have spent a lot of time making a house into a home, it’s hard to not get attached and it’s even harder when some buyers don’t see the value or worth that you see.
When listing your home, it’s important to look at it from a financial and business standpoint. Distance yourself from the emotional side all together so you can focus on the “what’s next?” in your home search.
Be prepared for pop-up showings.
With the marketing moving as fast as it is, listers need to be prepared for pop-up showings. Buyers are jumping on listings as soon as they’re posted, trying to be the first through the door, and putting in offers FAST.
Your home should be clean, straightened up and you should try to be as flexible as possible if you need to walk out of the front door when your realtor calls to request a showing. You don’t want to miss out on any major opportunities to sell.
Consider allowing us to host an open house.
Open houses can be a great way to attract the attention of people already living in the area. A picture is worth a thousand words (and still very important), but seeing a home in person is a whole different experience.
Keep in mind with new restrictions due to Covid, it’s best to discuss open house options like how many people you can allow in your home at once and how to disinfect properly when people are coming and going.
Take the Murray Team with you every step of the way.
Hopefully if you’ve made it to this point, you’ve decided to list with The Murray Team. The home buying or selling process can be stressful, but it can also be incredibly rewarding and exciting when you’re working with the right person.
Remember to COMMUNICATE. Communication is extremely important on both your part and ours. Make sure you share your wants, needs, and concerns verbally and in writing. We want our time together to be productive, so keep everything out in the open.
Remember to TRUST us. Trust that we, as your real estate team, are looking out for your best interest. Certain details in a home can get brushed under the rug if you think it’s ‘the one’ — like price or expensive repairs. It’s important to let us provide you with all information, from top to bottom, to weigh the pros and cons before making any type of commitment.
Some key listing strategies that we will bring to the table are professional photos and even property videos. High quality photos are extremely appealing for a listing, now more than ever. While living in a world rocked by the Covid-19 pandemic, people are looking for alternate options to avoid coming in contact with others. This is it. The Murray Team has the resources to get top quality photos and videos for your listing. The better quality the content, the more likely buyers will find the home attractive. Like we said before, the online listing is what buyers will most likely see FIRST. Bad quality = poor results and a bad image for your home.
With these basic tips, we know you’ll be as ready as you can be to get your house on the market and sold in no time. There’s no better time to list than now and we’re here to help every step of the way.