“DEPERSONALIZE” THE SALE OF YOUR HOME
The realtors with Williamsburg Realty will assist you with all of the details that must be managed to ensure that you successfully list your home! It takes careful planning — and knowing how to professionally prepare and stage your home in order to find a buyer, get the highest price that the market will bear, and accept an offer with the best terms — are all very important requiring expert advice & guidance.
CLEAN THE HOUSE! PAINT! IT SHOULD SPARKLE.
Wash windows, hire a professional cleaning service, clean rugs, have your handyman go through the house with you to fix small but necessary repairs, and get rid of odors (buy air ionizer if you must because of pets).
MAKE REPAIRS
Look for cracked tile, doors that don’t close, burned out light bulbs, toilets that run, showers that drip, etc. Don’t forget the exterior of your home for repairs as well such as the deck/patio and outdoor furniture or fixtures.
ENHANCE CURBSIDE APPEAL AND LANDSCAPING
Hire a professional if you must – Replace worn door hardware, clean the front door, power-wash outside, plant flowers, make sure the lawn is in good shape, have flower pots or topiaries near front door, get rid of cobwebs. Prune trees and trim bushes. Paint trim and/or shutters. Weed and mulch your property, edge sidewalks and driveways. The exterior of the home is the first impression that is seen by the buyer. Leave enough space in the driveway for the potential buyers & Realtor to park.
OVERPRICING
You obviously want to get the highest possible price for your home, but if you price it too high, you will ultimately get less than if you priced it realistically to begin with – Look at the comps in your area, recent (last 6 mos.) sold listings, and hire a professional appraiser if you want another opinion. You can control the asking price, but you can’t control the sales price – the market does. Homes that show well and are priced well really do sell. Your Realtor is an expert when it comes to setting the right price for your home. Timing. Putting your home on the market before it is ready… Don’t do it. You get the most viewings when your home is first put on the market and you don’t want to lose a potential buyer because you didn’t allow yourself enough time to replace the carpet.
AGENT RELATIONSHIP
Hiring an agent for the wrong reasons is a mistake. There are many things that can go wrong if you do not choose the right Realtor to sell your home. Hire someone with a proven track record who is experienced. You need to like the agent and trust him/her and feel comfortable. It is important that you also respect your agent and listen to his/her expert advice and guidance during the selling of your home.
HIDING SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS
Either fix the problem ahead of time, price your house accordingly, or list the property at a normal price buy offer the buyer a credit to fix the problem. Hidden problems that are discovered at a later date can compromise the sale of your home.
NOT BEING PROPERLY INSURED
Make sure that if your house is on the market in the winter, that you clear outside steps and walkways of ice and snow. If your home is being listed in the summer, be aware pool safety if you have one on your property. Remove pets if possible during showings for safety reasons. Have insurance in case something happens, since you will have many buyers, agents, and brokers coming through your home at various times.