10 Tips: Sellers

1. Take the advice of your REALTOR®. Your REALTOR® has the expertise to help you make decisions that serve your best interests.

2. Consult your REALTOR® before you prepare your home for sale. Your REALTOR® knows which repairs will significantly increase the value of your home and will make sure the improvements you have in mind are worthwhile.

3. You’ll earn the most money by listing your home at a fair price. A high listing price causes buyers to lose interest even before they see your property. Overpriced homes take longer to sell and are usually sold below asking.

4. Put away your family photos and de-personalize your home so buyers see it as their potential home, not yours.

5. Set a staging budget of 1 - 5% of your list price. It’s an investment that garners higher bids and quicker sales.

6. Clean out and create some empty space in your closets, cabinets, and drawers. Home buyers will be opening them to see if there’s enough room for their stuff.   

7. Turn your bathroom into a spa by hanging plush robes, setting up groupings of scented soaps, and tying up wash cloths with ribbon and placing them in a basket on the counter.

8. If you’re showing your home in winter, set your heat a degree or two higher than usual, then lower it to normal. This prevents the furnace from turning on when the buyer is present. Furnaces can be loud and can also make buyers see dollar signs.

9. Market your home with a great exterior photo to attract buyers. Crop out sidewalks and streets, remove vehicles from your driveway, make sure your sidewalk is clear, and trim back any shrubs that block your front door.

10. If you own a condo without a yard, market it with photos of the amenities within, such as the social lounge, spa, or fitness facility.

REALTOR® is a federally registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a Member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.