Resources to guide you through the process of selling your home.
Know Your Property's Worth
If you would like to know how the market value of your property compares with others in the same area? Receive a free Comparative Market Analysis by simply filling out the form below. The best way to get the most accurate property values involve the inspecting of the property by a real estate professional. This is because every property value is affected by a "perceived" value which requires visual inspection. For this reason we may contact you concerning a visitation of your property.
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By completing this form and clicking "Send Message" you are consenting for us to contact you by email or phone and create a free property valuation report for your property.
Pricing Your Home Competitively
The single most important factor in getting the best price and selling your home quickly is pricing it competitively. If you price it too high, it will sit on the market for so long that when a buyer does make an offer, it will likely be far below the asking price. If you price it too low, you may sell it for less than what it is worth potentially costing you thousands of dollars.
Understanding Market Analysis
In order to price your property competitively, you need to look at:
- Competing homes (active listings)
- Homes that have sold (comparable sales)
- Homes that didn't sell because they were over-priced (expired listings)
The best way to evaluate the market is with a CMA "Comparative Market Analysis" prepared by a real estate professional. This report will help you evaluate the market conditions and determine the price range that your home is most likely to sell.
Marketing Your Home Effectively
There are a limited number of people looking for homes like yours in your area at any given point in time. The best way to ensure that you sell your home quickly and get the best price is to make sure the maximum number of interested buyers have available information on your home.
Modern Marketing Strategies
While running classified ads and/or print ads are still effective, they are quickly becoming a thing of the past. Over 70% of all home buyers start their search for homes on the Internet, so it is important that your home is listed on all of the major Internet sites.
- Multiple Listing Service (MLS) exposure
- Listing Syndication to major real estate websites
- Professional real estate agent representation
- High-quality photography and virtual tours
- Targeted digital marketing campaigns
- Social media promotion and engagement
Preparing Your Home for Showings
It's a challenge to keep your home in tip-top, showing condition at all times. Children, pets, and personal living habits tend to add some "clutter." Also, the Realtor's call informing you that he's coming by with a potential buyer often comes as a surprise.
Quick Checklist Before a Showing
Here is a list of last-minute items to attend to between the Realtor's call and his arrival to show your home:
- Box up and remove any extra clutter, toys, etc. from the home. Put what you can in storage, and do all you can to make the home, the garage, and the storage areas as open, clean, and clutter free as possible.
- Repair and replace anything that is broken, worn, or unsightly. This includes painting the sofet and fasia, cleaning the porch and entry way, spraying and cleaning windows, etc. Make sure the door knobs, faucets, and handles all work properly. You may even consider new carpet and interior paint -- as it may be an investment that will bring you a much greater return in the end.
- Clean and put away dirty dishes.
- Clear tables of newspapers and clutter.
- Send children and pets outdoors to play, or have them visit a neighbor.
- Turn off appliances, including the television and radio.
- Day or evening, turn on all the lights. Your home will appear brighter.
- Close the garage door.
- Put away children's toys.
- Open some windows unless there are noise considerations (weather permitting).
- Remove any ashtrays and evidence of tobacco.
- Eliminate any bad or stale odors. Use air freshener, especially if you smoke, have pets, or the house has been sealed for some time.
- In Winter, light a fire in the fireplace. In Summer, have the wood stacked neatly beside the fireplace.
- Be sure your plants have been watered and look healthy.
- It is best to leave your home whenever possible. If you can't leave, greet your guests politely and retreat to another room.
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To avoid potentially catastrophic problems with your home, you should regularly get it inspected. Small problems can become big, and the more you put off repairs, the more it will cost you. Making sure that the areas you can't see are in tip-top shape is a great way to keep the value of your home up.
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Repainting a house or even just a room is an easy and cost-effective way to bring added value to your home. Fresh paint makes rooms look crisp and updated, which in turn equals more value for your home. Neutral colors are universally appealing. If you keep your colors neutral, you will retain a larger audience and make your house more desirable. Paint and supplies are incredibly cheap compared to other renovations. So what are you waiting for? Get painting!
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Sub-par lawn keeping and overgrown landscaping will make your home stand out, and not in a good way. Luckily, this is an easy fix, and the outcome will make your house stand out in the way you want it to. You can either put the work in yourself or hire a company to take care of it for you for a few hundred dollars.
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French or sliding glass doors are a great way to bring the beauty of nature into your own home. Natural light brings a plethora of life to any room. Having a large view of nature will also make the room feel much bigger. There are also a wide variety of energy-efficient sliding doors you can purchase, keeping your cooling and heating costs at a minimum. This will also appeal to new buyers should you decide to sell your home.
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These little things will most definitely add up. Replacing outdated fixtures, such as lights and ceiling fans, will make a subtle but noticeable difference in your home. Purchasing energy-efficient fixtures will also bring down the cost of your energy bill. This will save you money in the short term and make you money in the long term.
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Ditch the old and outdated appliances for some sleek and energy-efficient new ones. An appliance with an Energy Star label has been certified by the government to use 10-50 percent less energy and water than conventional appliances. A brand-new set of stainless steel appliances will put your home way ahead of the competition.
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Lighting makes a significant difference in the feel of a room. Adding light is a bright way to increase the overall value of your home. Light has a way of making a room feel much larger, as well as clean. Adding studio lights to areas is also a great way to draw attention to the best features of your home.
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Want to make a difference but only have a few thousand dollars to spend? Focus on the kitchen and the bathrooms first. These spaces are the two most important areas of a home. These rooms can make or break a house. Either room is a good choice, and luckily, you don't have to do a total overhaul to see a return. Even modest updates can bring you an 80 to 85 percent return.
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Probably one of the most sought-after amenities is ample storage space. Adding new space and custom shelving will cost you a pretty penny (around $5,000), but you will definitely see the return. You can also do this without breaking the bank. Hiring a professional organizer and organizing your space can make a huge difference in the ambiance of your home.
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Dirty and worn-out carpet and flooring can be a huge turn-off for potential buyers. Replace it with the hottest trend in flooring: renewable, environmentally friendly bamboo. Wooden floors are very easy to clean and last a lot longer than carpet. Choosing flooring options like bamboo also minimally impacts the environment and is also appealing to environmentally conscious buyers.