20 Tips For Selling Your House Fast

Is it just me or does it seem like the economy is finally starting to turn around a bit?  I am seeing more and more for sale signs in the yards of houses–which to be honest, I haven’t seen in awhile.  It’s like people are recovering and starting to move on.  {Or, at least, I hope that’s what it means.}

If you are hoping to sell your house this year, and want to get it done fast, here are a couple of tips:

1. Clean out closets.  Buyers want to see LOTS of storage space.  Clear our the clutter and keep your closets half-empty.  Buyers are going to open up the closets anyway, might as well let them know that they will have ample space to store their own belongings.
2. Keep the critters hidden.  You might love your dog, cat, and hamster, but buyers want to believe that the space is clean–and whether or not you are or not, animals don’t scream:  CLEAN.  It’s better to hide the dog bowls, litter box and cages.  That way, all they will see is a clean house.
3. De-personalize.  You love your Aunt Gladys, buyers don’t.  Take her picture down, and everything else that is exclusive to who you are as a family.  Then, buyers will be able to imagine their own stuff and their own lives it the house.
4. Keep it clean.  Be ready for impromptu showings.  The more restrictions you put on showings, the less traffic you will have.  The less you traffic you have, the fewer potential buyers.  If you are diligent about keeping the house clean, impromptu showings will be a non-issue.  {If you have little ones, all I can say is to remember:  the sooner you have a buyer the sooner you can get on with real life.}
5. If you really want out fast, consider leaving behind higher ticket items.  Leave appliances, a pool table, a greenhouse or a flat screen t.v.  Those higher ticket items really entice buyers.
6. Upgrade, but not too much.  If carpet needs replaced, replace it {or offer an allowance in the terms of the sale}, but don’t get the top of the line.  It just won’t pay out dollar for dollar.
7. Remember to tell your own friends the house is for sale.  Word of mouth is a powerful selling tool.  Use Facebook to get the word out–you never know, a friend of a friend of a friend might find out about the house and be in the market.
8. Don’t forget the exterior.  First impressions are key.  Plant flowers, keep the front porch swept, and lay out a welcome mat.
9. Be honest with yourself about the worth of your house.  You may have put a ton of money into it, or may “need” a certain amount out of it in order to move to the next house, but none of that matters, really.  The only thing that matters to potential buyers is that it is priced fairly for the square footage, neighborhood, and finishes.
10. Know your competition.  If the house down the street is for sale, know its list price, square footages, etc.  It can help you to draw in some of their potential buyer traffic by staying competitive with price and finishes.
11. De-clutter.  De-cluttering isn’t just for closets.  Consider putting knickknacks in boxes an storing them.  Clear off kitchen counters–even if it is full of kitchen-y things, like a toaster, blender, etc.  Remember, you want buyers to see how much space they will have.  They can figure out their own acceptable amount of clutter when they have purchased your house.
12. Find an agent you TRUST and  then LISTEN to their suggestions.  It might be hard to hear that your house isn’t worth what you thought or that your bathroom is in need of an update before it is sellable, but it is their job to sell your house, they won’t steer you astray {in most cases}.
13.  Try to make sure colors are as neutral as possible.  If that means a fresh coat of paint or a cheap-o bedspread, consider it a worthy investment.  Colors can be very off-putting to potential buyers.
14. Hide personal items in the bathroom.  Yes, everyone wears deodorant {or I hope so}, but not everyone wants to see it.  Put all toiletries away neatly in drawers and under the sink each day.  It’s a giant pain in the behind, but hopefully it won’t last long.
15. Make the most of awkward spaces with staging.  If you have a weird little room under the stairs or a nook that really does nothing, consider staging it to give the illusion of more space.  Turn it into a little office space with a simple desk and chair, a reading nook,  or storage closet with organized shelving.  The investment will be minimal either way.
16. Make a habit of opening up all of the blinds every day.  The better the lighting, the better people feel about the space.  In dark rooms, don’t be afraid to leave the lights on.
17. Keep on top of your agents marketing activities.  You are paying your agent big bucks to sell the house.  If you don’t feel like they are doing everything they can to sell the house, make sure to have concrete reasons why and tell them.
18. Season permitting, stage outdoor spaces.  If you have a beautiful deck or patio, help bring focus to it by setting the patio table to look Sunday brunch-like.  I know it feels ridiculous, but buyers will feel like they will have a backyard retreat that they may not have imagined otherwise.
19. Make sure the kitchen is up-to-snuff.  Kitchens are the heart of the home, consider painting old cabinets, installing a new, updated back splash, etc.  Buyers usually offer considerably less than asking price when the kitchen is dated, even if the rest of the house is awesome.
20. If you are brave enough, find out what your house is worth, and then consider shaving 10-15% off the price of the house right up front.  Odds are, you will be priced low enough that people will flock to your house and a bidding war will ensue.  Some realtors swear you typically get more than you would have with a standard asking price.  {I have to admit, I don’t know if I would be brave enough to take the gamble on this one.}

How about you, have you learned any tips from selling houses in the past?

~Mavis