08 Dec 5 Tips for Sellers
The longer a home is on the market, the less attractive the home becomes to buyers. The best home selling tricks are to price it right from the start, prepare it for sale, hire the best listing agent, and attract that excited home buyer who will offer top dollar in record time. Piece of cake, right? It can be, with the right agent supporting you. See why Nadia Colucci is that agent for you.
5 Tips for Sellers
1. Understanding Value:
The truth is, it doesn’t really matter how much money you—as a seller—think your home is worth. The person whose opinion matters is the buyer making an offer, and the appraiser. Pricing homes is part art and part science. It involves:
- Comparing similar properties that have recently sold
- Making adjustments for the differences among them
- Tracking the market movements
- Taking account of the present inventory
- Ultimately comparing current inventory to your home
This is all done in an attempt to come up with a range of value. This method is the same way an appraiser evaluates a home. No two appraisals are ever exactly the same; however, they are generally close to each other.
In other words, there is no hard and fast price tag to slap on your home. It’s only an educated guess and the market will dictate the price. That is why it is important to be reasonable and flexible when pricing your home.
Nadia Colucci is very upfront and knowledgeable when it comes to selecting the comparable homes for value (commonly referred to as ‘comps’) for you to begin with. She will not waste your time or give you an unrealistic value just to have you select her as your listing agent. She will be honest in providing you with a realistic value of the home, and market it at a range that will bring you a qualified buyer. By understanding and knowing the market and value so well, she is able to explain this to the perspective buyers and other agents when effectively negotiating the sale of your home.
2. Disclosure:
Material Facts are commonly referred to as anything that would affect the buyer’s decision to purchase the home, or the price and terms the buyer is willing to offer. In other words, if you have knowledge about a defect or material fact, it should be disclosed. A lot of times, sellers have lived in the home for many years and may forget they even needed a plumber to fix a broken pipe 7 years ago! Nadia recommends keeping a file called “home repairs/fixes” to keep track of all your receipts and repairs. This will make it a lot easier when it comes time to sell.
The more you disclose, the better off you will be in the long run. Don’t be afraid of disclosing too much. Protecting yourself from any legal implications in the future is key. If you are wondering whether you should mention something or not, the answer is yes, you should!
4. Staging:
Home staging is about illusions. It’s how David Copperfield would sell a house. It’s beyond decorating and cleaning. It’s about perfecting the art of creating moods. Staging makes your house look bigger, brighter, cleaner, warmer, and—best of all—it makes home buyers want to buy it!
Here are a few of Nadia’s recommendations to make that happen:
Make Minor Repairs:
- Re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks
- Consider painting your walls neutral colors, especially if you have grown accustomed to purple or pink walls (Don’t give buyers any reason to remember your home as “the house with the orange bathroom”)
- Patch holes in walls
- Fix doors that don’t close properly and kitchen drawers that jam or are hung incorrectly
- Replace burned-out light bulbs
- If you’ve considered replacing a worn bedspread, why not do so now?
Make the House Sparkle:
- Wash windows inside and out
- Rent a pressure washer and spray down sidewalks and exterior
- Clean out cobwebs
- Polish chrome faucets and mirrors
- Wax floors/clean carpets
- Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades and light fixtures
- Bleach dingy grout
- Replace worn rugs
- Hang up fresh towels
- Bathroom towels look great fastened with ribbons and bows
- Clean and air-out any musty smelling areas: odors are a no-no
Nadia Colucci has worked with a variety of staging professionals and designers. Vacant homes are the number one candidate for professional home staging, especially with a very large home. In most cases, it is easier for a buyer to visualize themselves in a home that is partially furnished and decorated.
Should you not be able to hire a staging company or need one, Nadia will come into your home to help you and make any necessary recommendations. She knows what works and has truly seen it all!
Bottom line: less is definitely more!
5. Marketing your property:
Marketing homes has changed extensively over the years, and will continue to do so. Long gone are the days of throwing an ad in the newspaper and having open houses as your primary way of selling.
Today it’s crucial to have a Realtor who understands the importance of internet and social media marketing to get your house sold in the least amount of time and at the right price. Most buyers start their home search on the internet. Nadia Colucci is on the cutting edge when it comes to giving your home maximum exposure. Based on your specific home and location, Nadia will effectively market your home for sale combining methods of internet exposure and traditional media to maximize your return.