If you want buyers to feel welcome, you might need more than a new mat.
You already know that curb appeal is important, but some home selling mistakes might not be so clear cut. It's difficult to separate yourself from the house where you live, even though you're trying to sell it. You've invested a lot of time and money into it, and you want to get the most return.
For the best results, real estate magazine, Inman, recommends that all sellers ditch the mistakes and think more about the buyer's experience. Here are 4 tips that can help:
#1: Be Ready for Showings
Is your bathroom clean? Or is it pristine, dressed beautifully and ready for guests? What about the kitchen, baseboards and even the laundry room?
What a homeowner might overlook could stand out to a prospective buyer. Remember, you see your home every day. It's easy to overlook things, such as a spot on a wall or a ring in the bathtub, that are brand new to someone who has never been there before.
If you're short on time, hire a cleaning service for a one-time overhaul. Then you can handle the maintenance.
Pink is great, but neutrals give potential buyers a blank canvas to think about.
#2: Don't Rely on Your Own Taste
Yes, that wall of photos is lovely. And it's also out of place when you're selling a house. Buyers need to see themselves living in your home as if it's their own. If all things go well, it will be. But the one thing that turns buyers off is too much of the current owner's personality.
Your child's pink bedroom might her favorite color. But what if the person viewing your home has a deep abiding hatred for anything pink or pink adjacent? The same applies to that gorgeous tangerine accent wall in the living room. Not everyone wants to live with orange paint.
Try to make your home as neutral as possible. You're selling the space, not your decorations. The less they interfere with the buyer's ideals the better.
#3: Be Courteous to Potential Buyers
Of course, you would never be intentionally rude. But some sellers can slight buyers without even realizing it. Probably the most important thing that you can do is leave. Current owners make buyers nervous. But that's just the beginning.
For example, if you have pets it might be smart to board them or let them stay with a friend or family member until the house sells. Some folks just don't like pets, and knowing they've lived there could be a turnoff.
Watch out for cooking and smoking odors, too, and get rid of any clutter. Inman says that messy clutter its the opposite of inviting. It can make even a great house seem unwelcoming.
#4: Watch What You Share on Facebook
Are you trying to hide a flaw with the house, or do you have a less-than-great opinion about someone who recently viewed it? Keep those things to yourself, recommends Inman.
Sharing too much on social media could be the fast track to a lost sale. It can also turn off other prospective buyers, and cause your friends to think twice about sharing your promotional posts.
It doesn't matter if a prospective buyer was rude, left heel marks on the vinyl or couldn't get financing. Until the house is sold, mums the word about it unless you're talking privately with a very close friend. Keep public posts professional.
You probably feel like you're doing your best with whatever efforts you make. But a different perspective can reveal that home buyers see something else. Remember, they aren't attached to your home the way that you are. And it's your job to help encourage them.
At eppraisal, we have many resources that can help people just like you transition from homeowner to home seller. When you're ready, we can even help you sell your home by connecting you with proven real estate professionals in your area.
