Selling Your Home for Maximum Value

Every seller wants to get the maximum return on the home investment. In order to accomplish this, you need to have a specific plan and put it into action prior to putting your home on the market. This will involve some time on your part, but not necessarily a lot of money. Small changes can make a huge difference in your final bottom line.

You want your potential home buyer to see your home as big, warm and inviting. This means your home appears to have more room, better lighting, more closet and storage space, etc. Buying a home is largely an emotional experience. You want the buyers to visualize themselves in your home having a great experience.

The first thirty days after your home has been put on the market are the most important. You want your home to be ready to go when it is put on the market. That means you want the outside and the inside of your home to be in the best shape possible. The small things you do to increase the appeal of your home, can put thousands of dollars back into your pocket.

Keep one point in mind… You never had a second chance to make a good first impression. For example, if you need to paint up and fix up some items in your home, do it before you put it on the market. When a home appears well kept, it makes a positive first impression to the buyer.

Buyers want maximum space. If your closets are smaller, purchase an expensive closet organizer and use it to increase the appearance of space. Pick up any clothes you’re not using and store them. Remove any unused furniture and store it. Try to live with only the essentials left in your home. De-clutter and clean every room.

Paint is the cheapest way to significantly increase the value of your home. Make sure you use a neutral color. Usually a white of lighter color is best. Paint makes a room appear brighter and larger. It confirms in the mind of the buyer that your home has been well maintained. When you’re painting, don’t forget the baseboards. This is where wear and tear first shows up. Clean and well maintained baseboards make a big difference.

Although a buyer may not maintain their home too well, you can bet they will carefully examine your home. Dirt and grime turn buyers off. No matter what type of flooring you have, make them as bright, clean and shiny as possible. That means you should clean the carpets and restore any chinks in the wood floor. It’s not expensive to do, but it should be done. Ask a professional for an estimate. Remember, you want to negotiate from a point of strength. Too many people want to give the buyer a credit for making the repairs. All you end up doing is reducing the profit from your home. The seller always looses money… always. If the buyer has a mindset of getting credit for repairs, you will never sell your home for maximum value.

Use flowers and indoor plants as needed to warm up the interior feeling of your home. Be sure you use attractive pots and containers. Although the plants are not expensive, they do add to the value of your home in the eyes of the buyer.

Clean, clean, clean… Fresh paint, careful repairs to tile, molding and grout make your home appear well maintained. Buyers want a home they can move right into without a lot of fix up.  De-clutter, de-clutter, de-clutter. Do you remember the last time you stayed at a really nice hotel? Do you remember how much counter space you had? There were very few personal items. Follow this example and you will reap big rewards in your bottom line. By removing most of your personal items and de-cluttering, you give the buyer the chance to imagine themselves living in your home. That’s what must happen to sell your home for maximum value.

The bottom line is to clean, de-clutter and move all items you’re not presently using out of the home. You want it to appear as large, clean and neat as possible. Make it easy for potential buyers to walk through your home. Make it easy for your real estate agent to show your home.