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Tips for Selling Your Property
Expedite your sale.
In real estate, first impressions are crucial. You'll have a hard time selling your property if it doesn't attract buyers. You will sell faster, easier, and often at a higher price if the property is attractive, clean and uncluttered.
When a family considers a home, they want to imagine themselves living there happily in style and comfort. That's hard to do if the yard is overgrown, the paint is peeling and cracking, or the carpet is stained and worn.
Likewise, when a rancher considers a rural property, or a company considers a commercial property, they need to envision themselves conveniently conducting business at that property with the highest return on investment.
Even minor cosmetic changes can transform an “ugly duckling” property into an attractive offering for prospective buyers. Although you may spend a bit of time and money up front, it will be well worthwhile if you can receive a higher price for your property. Click below to get started:
Make the landscape work for you.
“Curb appeal” is your first and best opportunity to attract potential buyers. Many buyers drive by properties to determine if they are interested in viewing. So, as you put your property on the market, you will need to create a pleasing exterior appearance.
- Keep your lawn neatly mowed, edged, and free of leaves, pine needles, and debris.
- Trim bushes, hedges, and overgrown tree limbs.
- Replace or repair any damaged siding, fencing, or decking.
- Power wash the driveway, sidewalks, patios, decking, and fences to remove stains, mold, and grime.
- Remove any clutter from around the building. If it’s a home, make sure your children's bicycles, toys, and sporting equipment are out of sight or neatly stored. Commercial properties should be free of equipment or other gear; if this is not possible, neatly arrange items for a more attractive appearance.
- Plant flowerbeds with eye-catching, blooming annuals or perennials.
- Keep existing flowerbeds free of weeds and add a layer of fresh mulch.
- Arrange container plants in pretty pots by the front and back doors, and on porches or decks.
- Place a birdbath in a prominent location in your yard. (This works for commercial properties, too!)
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Spruce up your exteriors.
Potential buyers will size up your home or building within the first few minutes of viewing it. If the exterior seems to be poorly maintained, buyers will naturally suspect neglect inside the structure.
Walk around your home or building and look for anything that detracts from its appearance. Some things to consider:
- Replace any broken or cracked windowpanes.
- Replace any damaged or missing shingles.
- Power-wash the exterior and/or repaint.
- Clean windows inside and out.
- Clean and/or repaint the front door.
- Replace outdated porch lights and accent lighting fixtures.
- Clean patio furniture.
- Remove rust from the A/C unit and any outside fixtures, and repaint them if necessary with a paint formulated for metal.
- Clean the pool and/or hot tub and make sure they are in good working order.
- Keep patios, decks, sidewalks, and driveway swept of dirt and debris.
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Warm up your interiors.
You've passed the first hurdle if a prospective buyer asks for an interior look at your property. It's important that you make the inside of your home or building as inviting as the outside.
Things to look for:
- Remove as many knick-knacks and personal items as you can, and pack them to prepare for moving. Be sure to store the packing boxes out of sight, preferably at another location. A few photographs or collectibles lend a homey touch, but too many will make your interior seem cluttered.
- Remove excess furniture that makes your rooms feel overcrowded or disrupts traffic flow.
- Crowded storage areas make a home or building seem cramped. Clean out your closets and cabinets. Remove items you no longer use, and pack away those you'd like to keep. The rule of thumb for storage areas is to keep them no more than 75 percent full, creating the illusion of space.
- Routinely dust every surface of furniture, appliances, ceiling fans, windowsills, baseboards, blinds, plants, knick-knacks, picture frames, light fixtures, etc.
- Polish all woodwork and wooden furniture.
- If needed, have your carpets, rugs, and draperies professionally cleaned. If they're in especially bad shape, considering replacing them. Have loose or wrinkled carpets restretched.
- Consider having badly worn hardwood floors cleaned and resealed.
- Thoroughly clean tile and linoleum floors to remove grime. Repair any chipped, loose, or broken tiles. Repair any damaged sections of linoleum. Clean tile grout, and replace any caulking or grout that has come loose.
- Wash all cabinets inside and out. Make sure your cabinet doors and drawers open and close properly.
- Clean all appliances inside and out, and make sure they work properly.
- Clean sinks, faucets, tubs, and toilets until they sparkle. Use a pumice stone to remove any rust stains, and an appropriate cleanser to remove any hard water deposits. Replace corroded pipes.
- Repair or replace damaged sheetrock, including water stains.
- Clean stains and fingerprints from paneling and painted walls. Consider repainting if your paint is worn or faded, or if the color is unusual. Buyers typically prefer neutral colors. A lemon-yellow kitchen or forest-green bath, for example, can be a turnoff.
- Make sure every light fixture works and has a working light bulb. Full-spectrum bulbs such as GE Reveal are brighter and provide richer color, making your home or building seem more cheerful.
- Make sure all windows and doors open and close easily and have working locks.
- Clean the garage of all clutter. Make sure any items that remain in the garage are neatly stowed.
- Oil squeaky hinges.
- Remove any safety hazards, such as electrical cords that run across the floor.
- Fix any eyesores, such as peeling laminate countertops, missing outlet covers, or unsightly gaps around light fixtures.
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Show your property to its best advantage.
You can easily create an inviting atmosphere to make potential buyers feel at home when they tour your interior spaces. Here are a few suggestions:
- Open the drapes and blinds to let in light, and to create an open, expansive feeling.
- Keep the inside temperature comfortable, even if the house or building is no longer occupied.
- Make sure to keep up on your routine cleaning. You never know when a buyer will make an appointment.
- Don't leave dirty dishes in the kitchen or personal items in bathrooms.
- Turn off the television and radio, or leave soft music playing.
- Make sure all toys and equipment are neatly stowed out of sight.
- Remove pets and pick up after them. Even devoted animal lovers will be turned off by a litter box in the house or dog droppings in the yard.
- Lock away any firearms, valuables and important documents.
- Put fresh soaps and guest towels in all bathrooms and clean, pretty kitchen towels in the kitchen.
- Consider baking cookies or bread, or set out a lightly scented potpourri to give your home a pleasant aroma.
- For a welcoming, homey touch, open a cookbook on a kitchen counter or set up a puzzle or board game in the den.
- Above all, give prospective buyers privacy to look over the property. They will be more relaxed and comfortable if they have time to thoroughly inspect the interior with their agent.
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Consider a professional touch to help prepare your property for selling.
You can use any or all of the services below:
- The first person to consult is your Realtor. Coldwell Banker Realtors are professionally trained to help you evaluate the condition of your property and advise you on steps needed for a speedy sale.
- A Certified Home Marketing Specialist can help you "stage" your home, or enhance specific areas of your property for the best possible showings. These specialists are Realtors who are professionally trained to identify problem areas, find the required resources, and manage the improvement process for you.
- You can find Certified Home Marketing Specialists on your Coldwell Banker team, ready to help with your pre-sale requirements. Find a Realtor
- A seller's inspection by a licensed inspector will give you an accurate assessment of your property’s condition.
The buyers will likely commission their own inspections, so you can avoid unpleasant surprises by having your property inspected beforehand.
A seller's inspection can also help you gain the confidence of potential buyers by demonstrating that you're not hiding problems and that you want your property to be safe haven for its new owners.
Inspections cost $200 to $300 and can uncover hidden problems such as leaky chimney flashing, unstable foundations and termite infestation. Any of these conditions can delay or cancel your sale.
By learning of these problems up-front, you can clearly understand the fair market value of your property and make necessary repairs.
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