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This post was first published on coldwellbankerelite.com
Ever wonder why some homes sell faster than others? There are plenty of examples of similarly priced homes that had drastically different days on market! Here are our 5 best tips for speeding up a home sale:
1. Clean It Up
There’s no beating around the bush, the house needs to be clean. If you’re not sure if your house is passably clean, get a friend to give you an honest opinion or just hire a cleaning service. Ideally, decluttering and deep cleaning should happen BEFORE listing photos are taken. Don’t make potential buyers have to imagine what the house might look like tidied up–get rid of clutter both inside and outside the house and put some elbow grease into making the place sparkle! Cabinets and drawers should be wiped down, any scuffs removed from the walls and kitchen appliances polished. Shampooing your carpets or mopping the floors can make a big difference!
2. Consider Staging
Take a look at some of the other homes for sale in your area. Some of them will be vacant, some will still have the seller’s furniture and some may be professionally staged. Which looks more appealing to you? Staging is an extra expense but for many sellers it is worth the trouble! You can cut down on staging costs if the home is only staged for the listing pictures. If you’re really pressed for time or can’t afford to hire a staging company, focus on staging the bedrooms and living rooms, adding art pieces strategically to make the home feel more comfortable.
3. Professional Listing Photos
Dimly lit iPhone pictures aren’t going to cut it nowadays! The pros know the best ways to frame and shoot various rooms and can adjust for non-optimal lighting situations. Professional photographers will also have wide-angle lenses to fit the entire room in the photo and video and drone capabilities if your home requires them. Your CBE agent will know several great real estate photographers who can make your home look amazing!
4. Make It Available
Once your home is on the market, get ready to spend a lot of time away from your home so buyers and real estate agents can view the property comfortably without you or your pets lurking around. For at least the first week or so that the home is on the market, it’s best to accept all showings within normal viewing hours and to make the home as accessible as possible.
5. Price It Right
Bottom line: Buyers are mostly concerned with their bottom line. Pricing the home appropriately from the beginning will drastically cut down on days on market and help you capitalize on the initial buzz from potential buyers. Your Coldwell Banker Elite agent can help you decide on the right price for your home by looking at a variety of factors: your house’s age, any updates, square footage, and the school district. They can also pull up comparable homes, or “comps,” that have sold in the area to evaluate the best price.
