In my previous blog, I discussed a number of strategies those looking to sell their homes could implement in order to better their chances of actually making a sale. That including boosting curb appeal, not investing too much in renovations, and decluttering. Seeing as those are just a few of many ways to alleviate the burden of preparing a home for sale, the following are even more things you can do for a better open house.
Repair anything that is broken in your home. This is an obvious consideration when trying to sell. Most homeowners only pay attention to visual aspects, like cracks or holes in a wall, chipped paint, etc., but make sure door hinges are working properly, sinks and faucets run smoothly, and every light bulb is at full capacity. Though this shouldn’t require too much money spent, pay attention to how much you spend and incorporate that in your asking price. Displaying to potential buyers that you put effort into your home builds confidence and a better chance of selling at or very close to your original asking price.
Much like curb appeal, your home should have an inviting look when people step through the door. This all comes down to cleaning and preparation. What caught your eye when you initially purchased this house? Accentuate all of its best features. Set up your dining room, bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchen as if you were hosting several (wealthy) guests.
One thing to take into consideration is that hosting an open house does not necessarily equate to a faster sale. If anything, open houses every week and add to the already stressful process of trying to sell your home. Look into holding individual tours. Not only does this separate interested buyers from window shoppers, but it allows you time to prepare beforehand without enduring the stress of large groups of people entering your home at any given time.
Never try and rush to sell your home. Just because certain seasons are said to be the best times of year to sell a home does not necessarily mean that they are the right times for you. Spring and summer are supposedly the most popular times to buy a home due to families waiting until their children’s school years are over, but think of how populated the market is becoming with millennials. 59% of millennials are single and have never been married, meaning that if they are searching for a home, the time of year is most likely the least of their worries. Regardless of the season, put your home up for sale when you are ready to do so.
Selling your home is no easy task, but following the proper procedures and working closely with a real estate broker can make the process much less troublesome. Strategies in making your home “sellable” will vary, but consider all of the aforementioned approaches in order to show how valuable your home truly is.