Mike Litton Real Estate

Selling Your Home? Here Are Some Tips For Today's Market!

Selling Your Home? Here Are Some Tips For Today's Market!

As you have probably noticed, our local real estate market has improved in many aspects mostly values are increasing again!

Here are some tips for you to maximize the sales price you receive for your home:

1. Start with Curb Appeal.

Your buyers' first impression of your home is when they arrive. Make sure that your lawn is very healthy and trimmed neatly. Your trees, hedges and bushes should be very healthy and trimmed neatly so the buyers can see your home! All of the above should frame and accentuate your home not block it or drive buyers away.

2. De Clutter Inside and Out.

All of us, with very few exceptions, have too much stuff in and around our homes to stage them properly for sale. A good rule of thumb is to remove 2/3 to half of your belongings and put them in storage.

3. Remove personal photos and items.

All personal items need to be put away out of sight. Your personal items mean a great deal to you but not to prospective buyers, remember, you want them to remember your home and how they could easily live there, not your personal items. Prescription drugs, items like jewelry and guns should be removed and secured to prevent theft. Most buyers are great people that are honest and would never steal anything, but there are the few that you need to guard against.

4. Stage Your Home.

We can refer a professional home stager to you and we are happy to do so. However, you can do this by simply following the leader! The best in the business at selling homes by open house are homebuilders. Go visit your local home builder sales office and model complex and take pictures of all the major rooms. Simply compare their living room to your living room. Make the appropriate changes!

5. Paint With Neutral Colors.

Bright colors that make a statement as to how creative and colorful you are do not help us sell homes. Keep the colors neutral earth tone and light.

6. Catch Any Deferred Maintenance Up To Date.

If you have a door that needs to be secured, re-hung and/or painted do it now. Clean your gutters, touch up the paint on the walls and trim. Have the carpets cleaned, repair those broken tiles, replace that shower door, closet door, exterior door and anything else that you have been putting off. Apply the garage floor sealer that you purchased but never got around to doing. All the little things add up to alot!

7. Price Your Home Competitively!

We may be in a hot, maybe very hot market, but your buyers are more sophisticated and knowledgeable than ever. Homes now are selling very close to their market price, there is a reason. The overpriced homes that have deferred maintenance, loud colors on the walls and are not staged are just sitting on the market like the poor kids that don't have a prom date!

Make sure that you listen to your Realtor, they will give you good advice and help you get your home sold for top dollar!

As always, thanks for listening!

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