When homes are hot, you need to try every possible method to make your home stand out — even some unconventional methods. Here are some great tips to make your home stand out to potential buyers — tips that you may not have thought of until now.
The hiring of a home inspector is usually done by interested buyers who have already put a contingent offer on your home. However, if you live in an area where there are a lot of homes for sale, then you want to stand out, and nothing makes you stand out better than a sign in your front yard that says, “Inspected by XXX”. Buyers will drive by and see that you already had a full home inspection done and saved them the cost of doing one. Buyers may end up wanting to hire their own inspector afterward, but this will certainly pique initial buyer interest. Ask your home inspector to show you the top 5 or 10 repairs that they think should be done before listing the home. Fix these items before listing your home and you will be well ahead of the game.
Have you ever been on a tour of a model home? Model homes are like well-dressed women or expensive hotel rooms; they are classy, modern, yet not overdone. Go on a couple model home tours and take a cue from the decor. On most tours, you will notice airy, open rooms with simple, stylish furnishings. Tables will be set for dinner with floral centerpieces and crystal glassware; kitchens will have open, clutter-free countertops; windows will be dressed in high-end curtains; hors d’oeuvres will be offered, and floors will shine. These are all the things to replicate in your own home — clean, stylish, and uncluttered with a generic modern decor that appeals to almost everyone. Buyers love to see luxury interiors, so consider these ideas to bring a luxe appeal to your home. If you do this in your home, you will surely attract more buyers — you may even end up with a bidding war!
This seems like a lot of work, but packing up half of your household belongings is a smart strategy to de-cluttering. Go through all your closets and pack away all the clothes and shoes that you don’t need for the next few months. Same goes for your kitchen cupboards and countertops — pack away all the glassware and appliances you don’t use every day. Also consider packing your personal pictures and knick-knacks because these personal items really do deter buyers. Essentially, cut out all of the clutter and make your rooms and closets seem bigger by packing away those items you don’t use every day. Buyers want to see large, airy rooms where they can imagine themselves — not cluttered rooms full of someone else’s personal belongings.
Sometimes we don’t see our homes for what they really are. We don’t notice the boxes of cereal stacked on top of the fridge because that’s where we have put them for years, or we don’t notice the big leather chair in the den is blocking an amazing view of our backyard because, again, it’s been there for years.
This is where a good, honest friend can come in handy. Ask a friend to come through your home and point out all the things they see as potential distractions for buyers.
Yes, you can have your realtor do this, too (and you should), but when this advice is coming from a friend it is much easier to take and is more readily listened to. After all, honest advice is what friends are for!
We all want to sell our homes fast and reach as many buyers as possible. These methods, along with all the typical home preparation tips, will surely make your home shine above the rest.
