When the real estate market starts to decline, some buyers might have to make some sacrifices when it comes to pricing their house and risk losing a lot of potential profit.
However, some ways can help you increase your house value and make it more appealing to buyers, even when the market is lacking activity. If you’re planning on selling your house in the near future, perhaps it is now time to start with preparations. Here are some tips that will make your property more enticing to buyers.
Table of Contents
Declutter
The first thing you should start with is decluttering. Naturally, clutter is not going to be flattering to your house and certainly won’t look good in pictures, so you might as well start with decluttering as soon as possible since it can take quite a bit of time.
Decluttering might include removing furniture to make your rooms look bigger as well as photographs and any personal items to make your space neutral and impersonal.
If you’re still facing problems with decluttering, you can always hire a stager, who will be able to tell you how to arrange your space for potential buyers. Local real estate agents are also quite familiar with the market demands, so make sure to hire one whenever in doubt to know the optimal way to arrange your furniture.
Curb Appeal
There are several elements that can limit your curb appeal that you might not be aware of. If you want to know how to get a house ready to sell, real estate agents usually advise house owners to improve elements that affect curb appeal.
For example, an old coat of paint on your house exterior will make your house look old and plain, which will reduce your house appeal. Therefore, be sure to apply a fresh coat of paint before house hunters arrive or before taking pictures. Make sure that the lawn, trees, and bushes are well-trimmed. You might also add a few potted plants and herbs here and there for the finishing touch.
Pricing
Pricing your house can be one of the trickiest things to do on this list, but once you know the right steps, you’ll have nothing to worry about.
Normally, house sellers price their properties by looking at comparable properties, so make sure to look for these in your local listings, but make sure to factor in any upgrades done to the comparable property, like roofing or garden upgrades, for instance, as they can increase the property’s value.
Remember that your house’s price is not a fact set in stone and that it can be changed upon negotiations. Therefore, you must have a skilled real estate agent to back you when the time comes for pricing. Real estate agents are also familiar with the market conditions, so they will help you price your house depending on these changes with as much profit as possible.
Depersonalize
Depersonalizing a house is one of the most effective strategies that will attract potential buyers. All house buyers will imagine themselves living in the property they’re viewing, so if your personal items are scattered around the house, they’ll have a hard time formulating this mental image, and eventually, they might not feel like this is the right house for them.
For this reason, be sure to remove any pictures of your family, as well as articles of clothing, or holiday souvenirs. Children’s artwork, certificates, and trophies can be distracting as well, so make sure to store them either at a family member’s house or at a rental storage space. At the end of this step, your house should be devoid of any evidence of inhabitants and should look warm and inviting to any house hunter.
Address Unpleasant Odors
The last thing you might want to check for is unpleasant odors. Cooking, smoking, full bins, blocked drains, and even your pets can produce odors in your house, which might deter buyers away. Therefore, you have to deodorize all your rooms hours before buyers arrive.
Pleasant odors can enhance your curb appeal and improve buyers’ first impression of the house. You can deodorize your house with several methods, like adding fresh flowers or using scented candles. There are several good choices, like lemon, orange, cinnamon, or vanilla, all of which have worked well for house sellers.
There are several methods to ensure that your house is sellable, but you must start with assessing your property first before executing any of these steps. Consider what your property needs and what type of upgrades you can do to improve your curb appeal and induce a better first impression for house hunters. Make sure to consult a real estate agent every step of the way to know whether or not your house will be compatible with the market.
