First Time Home Seller: Tips & Tricks
Selling your house can be just as intimidating as buying your first home. There are a lot of “what-ifs” you may be
dealing with. What if I waited and did the kitchen reno? What if I sold in summer? However, you don’t have to be a dear
in the headlights when selling your home.
You will feel more than ready by doing your homework ahead of time, implementing a few key tips and tricks, and teaming
up with a seasoned seller’s agent!
Find the right agent
Look at your agent as your ally, the person who is in your corner and going to guide you through the process. Keep the
communication flowing, asks the right questions, and listen to their expertise.
The right seller agent will also know your particular set of needs. It’s good to shop around and find an agent who fits
the process you are looking for, and this especially holds true if you’re selling a unique property or in an uncommon
situation. Again, the notion that not one size fits all is true here.
Increase the value of your home
Interiors
When putting your home on the market, the goal is to appeal to as many prospective home-buyers as possible! So while you
may love your home with all the family photos, collectibles, and personal touches you spent years thoughtfully making,
when it comes time to sell your home, you have to put it aside.
This means painting that red room a neutral shade.
Painting is the single most impactful improvement you can implement as a home-seller. Using neutral colors throughout
your home to add a clean and updated look is well worth the initial investment.
Another trick that all agents will agree upon is decluttering—like taking family photos off the walls, clearing the
fireplace mantle, and cleaning out the closets. Not only does decluttering help you prepare to move, but it allows
buyers to see themselves in your home while seeing the great attributes of your space.
It’s advised that you have only 50% of your belongings remaining in the home by the time you go to show your home.
Tip: The moment you decide to list your home for sale, start compiling a to-do list. Do not wait until the last month or
weeks to make these improvements, as they always take more time than anticipated.
Trick: If you want a hands-off approach to decluttering and updating your home for the market, you can enlist the
expertise of a home-stager. This approach can be especially helpful for a home with a funky layout or an older home that
needs significant updates.
Curb Appeal
First impressions are critical, and curb appeal is the first thing buyers see. Therefore, fixing up your curb appeal is
the number one recommended improvement by agents. It adds instant draw!
Some of the simplest and most impactful tasks are everyday yard work. Sporting a freshly mowed lawn, weeded garden beds,
fresh mulch, and trimmed trees and hedges can instantly add a facelift to your property. Likewise, removing dead plants
and trees and repairing broken fence posts or gutters is essential.
If you want to go a step above and seal the deal, adding a fresh coat of paint to the front door and shutters and some
strategically bright colored flowers can make your home shine!
Tip: Don’t underestimate the power of a good clean. Just like you’d clean your house inside before showings, it never
hurts to do a complete power-wash and clean your home’s exterior.
Open-House and Showings
Now that people will be inside your house, you can make that emotional impact! Don’t let anything detract – make sure
the house is spotless and free of pet odors or indications of a pet. Smells can easily deter buyers, so while cleaning
and painting can neutralize odors, fresh flowers or offenseless air fresheners can create a positive experience.
Tip: Instead of putting things away and cleaning every time you have a showing, try living as minimally as possible
while your home is on the market. This may look like less cooking and more eating out or even stashing your kids’ toys
in a bin that you can quickly move to the garage for showings.
Be Flexible
Having your house on the market isn’t always convenient, but it can be short-lived with the proper prep work. Saying yes
to all showings can be the difference in having that winning offer. So it’s important to be flexible and ready to leave
on the fly if an agent has potential buyers ready to view your home.
Tip: If the idea of leaving your home during an open house weekend overwhelms you, speak to your agent about going away
for the weekend and leaving the property wide-open for showings.
Use A Pro for Listing Photos
Don’t rely on your iPhone for photos of your house, especially after you put all the effort into making it market-ready.
Your agent will most likely have a go-to photographer or two that can take professional photos of your house inside and
out, edit them and have them on the MLS in no time. It’s worth every penny to have your home showcased by the pros who
know how to make it look spacious, bright, and irresistible to potential buyers.
Trust The Experts on the listing price
You might feel like your home is worth a million bucks, especially if it’s a beloved family home with lots of memories,
but remember that the best asking price for your home isn’t always the one you have in mind. Your agent will be doing
market research and sifting through comps to develop a number that is ideal for your market and property.
Tip: Though it’s tempting to put your house up for top-dollar, this can create the wrong impression when the number has
to be reduced. Nor do you want to under-list and leave money on the table. Instead, work with your agent to find the
sweet spot that makes the most sense for the market and your financial needs.
Ready to get the process going?
Contact us today to schedule a sellers consultation!
