5 Ways to Make Your Home More Appealing to Buyers
As they say, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. This couldn’t be more accurate than when you are selling your biggest asset, your home.
Not only does Austin’s real estate market move incredibly fast, it is competitive and you must treat it as such - a competition to get buyers inside your home. If your home doesn’t present well in the very first phot they see online, they will quickly move on. It is not enough to get them to your home; you must keep them interested from the moment they walk through the door.
Below you will find a list of top 5 things I recommend you do to get your home ready for an offer.
#1. Clean the Clutter
The goal when a buyer walks through your home, is for them to imagine living there. Clearing out the clutter and de-personalizing can help make that happen. You want to create a neutral space that allows them to picture all of THEIR items in the home. More often than not, buyers have a hard time picturing a home that is different than what is in front of them. Don’t make them try to see themselves living there through all your stuff.
#2. Address Bad Odors
If you have lived in your house for a long time you probably can’t smell what guests do. Do you have pets? Have you smoked in the home? Before putting your home on the market, have carpets and upholstery professionally cleaned and remove any items that could be creating the offensive smells. Whatever you do, don’t try to just cover up the scent.
#3. Have Your Home Pre-inspected
This gives you leverage and provides you the opportunity to address big issues before being surprised by the buyer’s inspection. If you aren’t factoring in having to paying for big repairs, it can come as a big shock when the buyers start their negotiations. This can sometimes stall the transaction or, worse case, causing a buyer to terminate altogether.
#4. First Impressions Matter.
Curb appeal is critical. Make sure your grass is green and properly mowed. Plants and flowers should be trimmed back away from the house, providing clean and clear access to the front door. If you are starting fresh, pick some flower combinations that complement the exterior color of your home. Additionally, fixing minor interior issues such as chipped tiles, damaged doors and peeling paint can show the buyer how well the home has been cared for, making it more appealing.
#5. Stage Your Home
A professional staging company can provide furniture and design spaces that help to showcases your home in it’s best light. The goal of staging is to create a welcoming environment so buyers can envision themselves living in your home.
Staging your home can also affect how fast it sells! According to a report from the National Association of Realtors, 38% of buyers’ agents stated that staging positively affects a home’s value if the home is decorated to the buyer’s taste, meaning that a home’s staging should be designed to appeal to the largest number of potential buyers -nice and neutral!
There’s no better time to sell your home in Austin. Curious about next steps? Let’s connect!