Home Selling Tips

With conventional interest rates still super low- around 2.5% this week- the housing market is still very much a Sellers market.?As a team, we have noticed things slightly calmer than past months, but it is still a 'hot' market. A home only will have a bidding war between 2-3 buyers, instead of 12+.?So it is still very much a sellers market.?

That said, we often get asked if Sellers should do remodeling on their homes to sell. In almost every case, we say no in this market. However, there are little things that can go a long way in presenting a home well and getting top dollar for it....

1. Declutter

Most homes have about 30% too much stuff inside. Clear countertops, corners, book shelves, etc. It will make your home feel light and bright if there are more open spaces. Garages are a terrific?place to store things in Utah, or an outside Pod. You are moving anyways, so begin by packing, decluttering and giving?things away.

2. Smells

People are sensitive to smells within a home. It is important to address them when selling. Make sure trash cans are empty. Make sure to not cook potent things in the kitchen. Open windows & have rugs shampooed. I do not recommend burning candles to disguise smells or baking chocolate chip cookies. Believe it or not, a lot of people don't like those smells- the only universal smell that everyone loves is citrus. Because it makes people feel like the house is clean!

3. Pets

Hide your pets, their bowls, their cages, etc. It is amazing how many times we have seen people change their mind on a house, once they discover it has pets. You might love your pet, but chances are your buyer won't.

4. Professional Window Cleaning

This is something our team has really been believing in lately. People love to look out the windows. Blinds should be open when a home is shown to create lots of lights. If people are looking through them onto hard water stains (common in Utah), it can make windows feel older and like they need to be replaced.?

5. Painting

This is a hard call depending on how beat up the paint is in your home. But overall, we say no to painting- because more buyers like to choose their own colors when decorating. One thing that can make a big difference is just painting door frames or some baseboards where there are lots of scuffs.

6. Light Bulbs

Most homes have yellowish bulbs that create dim light. When selling a home, you want things to be "light and bright," so buy those bright 100 watt white light bulbs. It immediately will make everything?feel larger and taller. Also, while you are at it, replace any missing smoke detectors. An inspector will make you do it eventually to sell anyway. It is good practice to have lights turned on for showings.

7. Air Conditioning

Since it is still summer and we are coming off of record high temperatures, I would remind you to keep your air conditioner turned way down. If buyers feel comfortable, they will stay and really look at your home... If they are counting the minutes until they can get back to their air conditioned car, it is not the best showing.

8. Dishes

Make sure dishes are done and sinks are empty. The place buyers linger the longest is the kitchen. So they will want to be able to explore- look in drawers, cabinets, etc. They are deciding if the space will work for them. Your kitchen will be a focal point on the tour of your house.?

9. Carpet

Another question we get asked often is whether to replace carpet. It depends on whether a cleaning will revive it. It is often worth replacing the carpet because it is not super expensive, and it can make a whole house feel updated. It pays off in the selling price every single time. People LOVE a new carpet smell and the idea that their babies and feet will not be walking on dirty old stuff.

10. Curb Appeal

A little TLC to the yard can go a long way. People like colorful flowers. They like bushes that aren't completely wild. They HATE to see dog poop. I repeat- they HATE that. Raking leaves, picking up rotten peaches, and mowing the lawn can go a long way.

11. Staging

We have become super fans of staging. It pays off every single time. There are different types of staging. We can have someone consult on how to declutter. We can have some in and do an 'accessory' stage, just to make your decor a little more colorful or trendy to appeal to buyers. Or, if a house is vacant, we will stage the main areas of the house. Staging makes homes feel bigger, cleaner and more updated. As I said, it pays off every single time.??

If you are thinking of selling, we would love to help. We can provide the staging and consult on what you need to do to be ready. We consistently help sellers of ours get more money than they thought was possible. Call us today!