Do make sure your home is as neutral as possible. Think of the human senses. What would a prospect see, hear, smell, or be able to touch within the house? Keep it neutral so as many people can be drawn towards the home as possible. This will help the seller reel in more buyers, receive more offers, and net more money.
Do de-clutter and clear out. Less is better. Between donating and throwing out old or unusable things, it can make a world of a difference. Plus, it’ll be like starting fresh at your new home!
Do some light fixes.
Sometimes it’s easier to sell “as-is”, but if you’re wanting to put a bit of sweat or money into fixing up, you can do the things that don’t cost a lot but make the house look and feel warm or inviting (i.e. painting, power washing, replacing cracked or worn outlet covers, fixing the door that doesn’t close properly etc.).
Do showcase your favorite parts of the home! So you absolutely love the backyard and seating area? Let potential buyers know! Maybe have it set up prior to an open house or showing. Let your Realtor know just how much you’ve enjoyed the countless family dinners out there.
Do be aware of aromas or smells. With pets, children etc., life happens. Just be aware of someone who knows nothing about you, your family or lifestyle, walking in and within a few seconds forming an impression on the home.
Do leave the house to let the buyers explore. Often times, it isn’t the seller’s actions or what they say or do that affects a buyer’s experience. It’s simply the presence of having the owner there. It’s best if a buyer can talk candidly about the home with their agent.
Don’t be a salesman/saleswoman. People are sick and tired of hard selling. Let the buyer experience the home for what it is. The selling will happen in other ways (finding out what’s important, asking the right questions, making them feel comfortable).
Don’t over-price your home. First impressions are everything! If you’ve set an unrealistically high list price, buyers may actually overlook your home when viewing online. They’ll simply look further into the home with more upgrades or more square footage for the same price. While the seller thinks “Well, I just wanted to see if I could get that price”, the buyer thinks “That’s out of my range, I’ll look at the other homes”. When numerous buyers think this, the seller’s pool of buyers is smaller, their home takes longer to sell, there is less leverage to negotiate as time passes etc.
Don’t settle for poor marketing. Nothing makes me more upset than marketing pictures taken with a phone. I can’t believe how common this is. A client is paying thousands of dollars to have a Realtor sell their home. Have a professional photographer take photos. End of story!