Want to know MORE secrets to sell quickly for a large profit? Here’s my 2nd video of this two part series on how to do that, because we all know… it takes WAY more than luck! Hi! I’m Tanja Odzak with Our East Bay Home brokered by eXp Realty and as your local real estate expert, I truly enjoy helping people and because I do, here are 5 more tips to help homeowners like you on how to prepare your home for sale. There are a lot of moving parts to make your sale a successful one from start to finish so I hope I can contribute to your success and make your FSBO experience a great one!
Check my first 1st video on this two-part series —> HOW TO “FSBO”: Selling Your Home for Top Dollar (PART 1)
Here are 5 more tips in order to do the same thing that people don’t often think about when selling their home on their own that will benefit you in the home selling process!
- – If you plan on taking certain window coverings, built-in appliances, or fixtures with you, remove them prior to showing the house. If the chandelier in the dining room once belonged to your great- grandmother and you dont want to include it in the sale, take it down before any potential buyer sees it and asks that it be included with the house. Telling a buyer they can’t have an item that appears with the house and enhances its appeal can hurt the sale.
- – In some seller’s markets, you can sell a home in lived-in condition without much complaint. But in normal markets or a buyer’s market, repairs can make or break a sale and many can be done very affordably and will end up making you more money if they are done. You’ll want to replace cracked floors or countertops and patch any holes in the walls. Fix leaky faucets and doors that don’t close properly, as well as kitchen drawers that jam. Consider painting walls neutral colors, especially if they’re currently pink or purple. Don’t give buyers any reason to remember your home as “the one with the orange bathroom”. Replace burned-out light bulbs and also consider replacing those that have been in service for a while. You want them all the same color and brightness. You want the buyer’s experience to be as positive as possible. Throw open the curtains and blinds and turn on those lights. Houses show better when each room is clean and bright.
- – Preparing your home to be viewed by potential buyers may require hiring a professional cleaning crew. Cleaning may include washing the windows inside and out; renting a pressure washer and spraying down sidewalks and the exterior; recaulking tubs, showers, and sinks; and polishing chrome faucets and mirrors. Make sure all of the dust is removed from under the furniture, in the cabinets and closets, and everywhere else it could be hiding. Try to maintain this cleanliness by vacuuming daily, waxing floors, dusting furniture, and keeping the bathrooms and kitchen spotless. Hang up fresh guest towels. Also, keep the toilet lid closed when it’s not in use. Kitchens are a big selling point for many buyers, so make yours as spotless and uncluttered as possible. In the event someone opens your refrigerator, make sure it appears clean and orderly. Above all, clean and air out any musty areas. The night before a showing, avoid cooking particularly odorous foods such as fish, garlic, curry or cabbage. These smells can linger the day after. Also, if you have pets, monitor litter boxes or any other areas affected by pets.
- – A potential sale is lost quickly if a buyer won’t even get out of their agent’s car because the exterior of your home turns them off. Make the exterior more appealing and welcoming by painting your front door and, perhaps, adding a wreath of dried wildflowers, or placing one or two flower pots on your front porch. Hire a landscaper to clean up your lawn and add a few shrubs or flowering plants. Consider hiring a contractor to fix any cracks on your front steps or walkway. Also, make sure visitors can clearly see your house number.
- – Back inside your home, linger in the doorway of each room and imagine how your house will look to a buyer. Examine how the furniture is arranged and rearrange pieces until the room achieves visual appeal. Make sure window coverings hang evenly. Once you’ve cleaned and gotten everything repaired and organized, you can begin staging your home.
Remember, this is only the beginning of the home preparation part of the FSBO process. Marketing is an entire process in and of itself. I’ve built great relationships with industry professionals that can assist with decluttering, cleaning, repairing, and staging so your home makes the best first impression to buyers. If you find you need assistance with this process, give me a call and I would love to partner with you and give you the best possible outcome for your home sale. Let’s connect and talk real estate. Let’s redefine possibility, and I will help you! Feel free to reach out anytime. This is Tanja Odzak with Our East Bay Home, brokered by eXp Realty.
I’m a Top Producing Realtor® in the OAKLAND / BERKELEY / EAST BAY AREA. I’ve been in the San Francisco East Bay Area since I came up to do my undergrad at UC Berkeley (a long time ago!), with a short stint at UC Davis while getting my Master’s. I take my duties as a Realtor® and Fiduciary very seriously, I enjoy educating my sellers and buyers along the way. Putting People, Before Profit.
Why not check out one of my no-obligation, online, On-Demand, virtual Real Estate Seminars?
Click here—> I WANT TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE *HOME BUYER* SEMINAR NOW
Click here—> I WANT TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE *HOME SELLER* SEMINAR NOW
Check out other videos in this Video Series on How to Sell Your Home on Your Own —> For Sale By Owner Guide For Sellers.