The real estate market has its ups and downs. When it’s down it becomes a little more difficult to sell your home for the amount desired. There are, however, things you can do to give your home an advantage over other houses potential buyers may see.

Home Repairs – Inside and Out

First off, take care of all those little things that you’ve been putting off. Put a new light switch cover in the bathroom, clean the dust off the chair rails and baseboards, put a new light bulb in the closet, trim the hedges, weed the garden, and tighten a stairway railing. You’re used to those things, but a buyer is looking at every detail. The more effort you put into the details, the more your house will shine. 

Keep it Clean

Speaking of shine, cleanliness and neatness counts. If you have children, let them know toys have to be put away. Shoes should be orderly, coats hung up, etc. Now, I know in a work-a-day world it’s not always easy keeping all the dishes done and other chores on task. However, if you do a little bit every night, you’ll find you have much less fussing come “open house” day. You also won’t panic when you get a call from your broker for a walk-through.

Home Staging and Pets

In terms of how your house impacts the buyer, some people hire a professional home stager. This person acts like an interior designer who specializes in making your house even more appealing to potential buyers. If you really can’t afford that try to look at your space critically. Get rid of clutter and put away highly personalized items. You want your buyer to be able to see their family living in your space. By the way, personal items include your pets. With strangers coming into the home, keep the cats and dogs in a safe spot where they won’t run out the door or nip at a house-seeker. Make sure pet beds and cat pans are immaculate. Pet odor is not a “selling tool.”

Sometimes it helps to be out of the house when it’s being shown. Your presence can make people uncomfortable. Additionally, listening to buyers nit pick your home can be emotionally frustrating. Talk to your agent about the possibilities.

Curb Appeal

The value of curb appeal shouldn’t ever be underestimated. Look at all sides of your home, tidy up the yard, and make your front door area very welcoming. Sometimes all it takes is a few well-placed flower pots!

Finicky Buyers

Buyers know they have it good, so they’ll be more critical now than ever. The kitchen and bathrooms are by far the most important rooms into which you should put spruce up efforts. If you’re dishwasher is old and your cupboards look yucky, focus on the cupboards first. You don’t want to over-invest and not recoup that value.

Listing Companies

Call several recommended listing companies in your area and interview them. Ask them how they would market your home and what kind of turn around you could expect. Choose a company that’s working for YOU, not just for a commission.

Home Inspections

In a buyer’s market it’s not unusual for a seller to pay for a home inspection. An inspector will find the kind of problems that a potential buyer is also watching out for. If you can show buyers you’ve had the inspection and already done that work, it’s a huge advantage to both them and you.

Offers

When it comes to receiving offers, remember that your flexibility matters. You might, for example, find someone willing to pay a better price if you’re willing to move out early, or if you’re willing to pay some of the buyer’s points or make space for some of the buyer’s belongings in the garage before moving day. 

If the offers feel low, remember to look at what values have been like throughout your neighborhood. Remember the offer isn’t something personal; it’s a judgment call based on the buyer’s outlook.  Instead of turning down these offers outright, consider making a reasonable counteroffer. This shows you’re willing to work with buyers and find a happy medium.