Your Detailed Action Plan for Selling a Home In Maryland
The longer a house stays on the market on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the less money it is likely to bring in. At some point in your life, you will probably have to sell a house. When that happens, it is a good idea to have a plan, no matter what kind of market you’re in. Doing your homework and having an action plan in place can help make the home selling process smoother. It can also help you sell your house quicker and for top dollar. Here are a few suggestions that you should include in your action plan.
1. Tidy Up
The moment you decide to sell your home, the first thing you should do is tidy up. Declutter. Get rid of stuff and give your home a good deep clean. You want to put your best foot forward and nobody wants to see a dirty or cluttered home. This will also help your realtor to see the house in its best light. If he/she can see what the house has to offer, they will be able to give you the best advice.
2. Depersonalize
Removing personal items and photos will help to make the space neutral. A potential home buyer will have an easier time envisioning the space as his or her own if there are not reminders everywhere that the place is yours. Depersonalizing includes covering any vibrant paint colors with tranquil neutrals and toning down your personal style in the space.
3. Curb Appeal
You never get a second chance to make a first impression and the first impression tends to be the one that carries. If the first sight a potential buyer has of your house is less than impressive, having tons of bells and whistles inside is probably not going to make up for it. Make sure to give your yard some love. Mow. Weed. Mulch. Landscape. Add a few flowers. You might also power wash your home’s exterior. The important thing here is to make sure that the exterior promises great things to come.
4. Make Upgrades
This is one place where a realtor can really come in handy. Too many people think that they have to make expensive renovations to improve the resale value of their home. A realtor who knows the local market can give you the best advice about where to spend you improvement budget. He will have the best idea about what is popular in your market. Sometimes upgrading your home may not be any more complicated or expensive than fresh paint and new hardware. Make sure to get a pre-listing home inspection and check with your realtor first.
5. The Right Price
Many people think that the best way to get top dollar for their home is to start off high. They think that if the higher price doesn’t generate any interest, they can always lower the price later. And while that is technically true, a house generates the most interest during its first 30 days on the market. It is therefore in the sellers’ best interest to set the price correctly at the beginning. Doing so gives them the best chance of finding interested buyers and selling quickly.
6. Get on the Web
In the information age it should go without saying that if you are trying to sell anything, you should put it on the internet. There are several major real estate portals such as Realtor.com, Zillow, and Trulia. Make sure that your home is listed on all of them. You want to make sure that all your bases are covered.
7. Pictures
Sometimes less is more. When photographing your home for prospective home buyers, more is definitely more. Home buyers want to see it all. One of the benefits of the internet is being able to see something before you see it. This is your chance to really entice home buyers, so get lots of pictures. Also, make sure that they are clear, thorough and well lit.
8. Lifestyle
The home is important, but just as important, if not more so, is the neighborhood. Make sure that when you create descriptions for your home on those internet portals that you include information about the neighborhood. If there are any areas of interest, neighborhood parks, good schools or close proximity to amenities that these are mentioned in your home description. You might also include photos of the neighborhood, parks or playground. You are not just promoting your home but a lifestyle.
9. Home Staging
Presumably, potential buyers will come by to see your property. When they do you will want to make sure it is ready to be seen. You have already cleaned and decluttered. You have already upgraded and depersonalized. Now, you have to make your home inviting to visitors. Have freshly baked cookies laid out for guests. Set out fresh flowers. And make sure that any space that does not have a specific function is given one. This means that the catch-all room that you use for storage should be turned into a guest room. The nook off of the kitchen could be a pantry or dining space. Do not leave any space unaccounted for.
10. Find a Realtor®
Once you have cleaned up, it is time to bring in a realtor. Real estate transactions are among the biggest you will make in your life. It will pay off to have a professional in your corner. Someone who knows not only real estate but the research involved in getting the best price for your home and getting it ready for market. Craig Linthicum has over 18 years of real estate expertise and has also sold some of Maryland’s most expensive properties. Use the form at the bottom of the page to learn more about how Craig can help you! When it is time to sell your home, develop a plan of attack to make sure that you are doing everything you can to make your home enticing to potential buyers. This will help to ensure that it sells quickly and goes for a good price. The quicker it sells, the sooner you will be able to move on to your next adventure.
