Top 10 Tips for Selling Your Home at a Buyers Market

If you’ve been watching the news lately, you’ve probably heard that the housing bubble has burst. Properties across the country are on the market much longer than in the past. Bad news for sellers, good news for buyers. With the housing market down, what should you do if you need to sell your home?

If you are realistic in your selling price and properly prepare your home for sale, there is no reason your home should not sell. Set a timeline for when you need to sell and start preparing today. The top 10 things to do include:

1. Get a professional home inspection. This is usually done on the back end, after someone has placed an offer. By doing it yourself, you can find out in advance all the little problems that need to be fixed. Oftentimes, it’s these little things that can be a deal breaker at closing and delay the sale of the home. Now you can also offer your home with a pre-inspection, letting prospective buyers know what has been fixed.

2. Clutter. Get rid of it! The number one turnoff for a buyer is walking into a home and seeing a lot of clutter. Clean your office. Put away the children’s toys. Clean the base and the garage. Throw it away, put it away and take it out of the house. Empty the cabinets. Buyers want to see plenty of closet space. No matter how big your closets are, shoppers won’t be able to tell if it’s full.

3. Depersonalize. A buyer has a vision of how their things are going to fit together. That vision can be distracting if all they see is family photos and all your collectibles. Pack it up and make your house neutral.

4. Clean! Nobody wants to buy a dirty house. A double spring cleaning is required. Cleans kitchen grease and grime. Get rid of mold in the bathroom. Clean dirt and cobwebs from the basement. Dust places you haven’t dusted in 10 years. Clean all the windows. Air out your house. A musty, barnyard smell is a real turnoff. Keep it cool and make it shine.

5. Paint. One of the cheapest ways to refresh the interior of a home is with a fresh coat of paint. A good neutral color will do wonders. Patch any holes in the wall as you go. Do not forget about the “white ceiling”. Another fairly inexpensive item that can make a room stand out is adding crown molding.

6. Landscape. Start with cleaning up the garden and any clutter. Trim overgrown trees and bushes. Repair or replace broken steps, retaining walls, gutters, concrete, fences, or decks. Pressure wash your deck and give it a fresh coat of sealer or stain. The same with a wooded fence if you need it.

7. Carpets and floors. Buyers love hardwood floors! If you have original hardwood floors covered with carpet, consider removing the carpet and refinishing the hardwood floors. Replace old, worn, or outdated carpet. New carpet must be professionally cleaned. New hardwood or vinyl flooring can be an inexpensive upgrade.

8. Kitchens and bathrooms. Kitchens can make or break a sale. In general, a total remodeling is not necessary. Depending on your budget, you can paint the cabinets, repair them, or just add new hardware. New laminate countertops are inexpensive. Replace old and outdated appliances. Take advantage of the space if you have room for an eat-in kitchen. Replace sink and faucet if old. Update the lighting. The smelly and dingy bathrooms are a turn off. New paint, lighting, and an updated vanity will impress buyers. Rerouting old tiles will make them look like new.

9. Staging. There are professionals who will come and arrange your furniture to maximize your space. The old tattered sofas should be moved. Clear all unnecessary furniture. You want your home to flow and look comfortable, inviting, and clutter-free.

10. Set a realistic price. Pricing your home 1 to 2 percent less than similar homes in your area will help close the sale. The higher its price compared to comparable homes, the longer it will stay on the market.

Start preparing your home for sale today and you’ll have a buyer in no time. Not only will you sell your house faster, but by following these 10 steps you will probably make more money than you would if you did nothing.