Selling a home can be nerve-wracking. And for good reason, with all of the cleaning and staging that has to be done! Like many other home sellers, you want to sell fast. But how?
The key is in meticulous planning. An attractive and marketable home for sale doesn’t happen overnight, you will need at least a week of preparation. Some might think that’s a lot, but considering you need to prep your house from inside out, upside, down…well, it takes a little time.
And, you only have one chance to make a good first impression; unfortunately, very few home buyers want to take a second look if they don’t feel a connection with a property the first time around. If a prospective buyer doesn’t want to get out of his car after a quick look at your home exterior, let’s just say a sale will not be on the horizon.
So, how do you start preparing your house for sale? Here are some do’s and don’ts:
- DO make sure to set a competitive selling price. Find out how similar properties are being sold, and make sure you don’t set a price too high. You’ll have greater chances of getting it under contract that way, rather than listing for house at a higher price then reducing it after some time in the market. A property for sale gets the most attention within the first 90 days of listing. After that, and it still hasn’t sold, some buyers may wonder if there’s something wrong with the property.
- DON’T get too sentimental. We know, we really know, that it’s difficult to detach yourself from your house. Envision yourself handing over the keys to the new owners. Try to see the many possibilities waiting for you when you’ve sold your house and moved to another. When one door closes…well, you’ve heard that one before.
- DO Organize cabinets and closets. House buyers love to open kitchen cabinets and bedroom closets. Now, imagine what they’ll think if they see everything organized. Stack dishes neatly. Fold and hang your clothes properly. Clean your shoes and line them up. Having things in proper order sends a message to buyers that your house is well taken care of.
- DON’T display personal pictures or heirlooms. Tuck them away in a safe place, with the thought that you’ll get to display them again when you move to your new house. You don’t want to distract buyers with these personal artifacts. They tend to divert a buyer’s attention, often making them wonder what kind of people live in the house. You don’t want them thinking along that line.
- DO remove all your clutter. It’s amazing how people can amass impressive amounts of stuff over the years. Go through your things and see which ones need to go. Tip: if you haven’t used something in more than a year, most likely you don’t need it. Just throw out excessive junk, or better, why not donate them? Pack important items in a small box and store in a closet.
- DON’T display your favorite furniture or appliances. If you’re planning to move out with your beloved chandelier or nice desk, take it away before a prospective buyer sees and likes it. Sometimes, it can be a deal breaker if you tell them they can’t have it.
- DO make small repairs. Most buyers will check on seemingly trivial house parts. Make sure you’ve fixed leaky faucets, jammed doors and drawers, wall holes, cracked tiles, burned-out light bulbs, even worn bed sheets and curtains.
- DON’T display a filthy house. This goes without saying. Best if you can hire a professional cleaner with power tools to clean your house inside out. You want a nice smelling house with clean windows, sparkling faucets, tubs, sinks, showers and mirrors.
- DO clean and organize your house’s exterior as well. Make sure to mow your lawn, trim bushes, and clear all junk from sidewalks and pathways. Flowers are a nice touch for a much prettier and inviting look.
- DON’T display your pets. Most buyers don’t like seeing pets around when viewing a property. Also it can be a deal breaker if your pet poops or gets out of control while buyers are around. Ask a friend or a relative to take care of your pet while prospective buyers are scrutinizing your house.
Best of luck selling your house! Contact us at Blue Sky Real Estate if you need help selling your property. Blue Sky Real Estate represents large and small Caribbean real estate properties located on St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, US Virgin Islands and Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands. Whether you are selling a luxury home, undeveloped land, condo, fix-upper, commercial property, a hilltop perch or a beachfront oasis, Blue Sky Real Estate can help.