Tips for Sellers

For anyone trying to sell their home in today's Cache Valley market, this blog is definitely for you! As of today there are 694 homes for sale in the valley listed by agents. So including owners selling their home For Sale By Owner, there are closer to 750 other homes you, as a seller, are competing against.

Now what does this mean to you? As a home seller you have to set your home apart from your competition. There are a couple of different ways to do this. Today I am going to give you some tips that will help you set your home apart 'physically.'

Presentation Appeal

CLEAR THE KITCHEN AND BATHROOM COUNTERS - Store appliances, containers, bottles, and any other infrequently used items under the counter and out of site. This will make the most important rooms in your house appear larger and more livable.

CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN - A clean house can bring thousands more and will always sell faster. Wash the windows, clean the carpets, mop the floors, scrub door frames and light switches, dust the floorboards, scour the bathrooms, change the shower curtain.

USE YOUR NOSE - Make sure your home has a pleasant aroma. Bake cookies or a frozen bread loaf, or burn candles or potpourri. Boil cinnamon sticks. Put a dab of vanilla on a cold light bulb. Grind a lemon in your disposal. Take out all trash, especially the kitchen.

REMOVE YOUR PETS - Many people are afraid of or simply allergic to pets and will not feel comfortable in your home with a pet underfoot. Take them for a walk or to the neighbors during showings. Pay particular attention to pet odors—it will kill the sale.

SILENCE IS GOLDEN - Be polite but avoid getting into conversations with buyers. They need to become emotionally involved with your home and conversation distracts them. Turn off the TV, and put the radio on a classical station.

LIGHT AND BRIGHT - A light and bright house is cheerful and inviting. Open all blinds and curtains; turn on every light including in the closets and basement. Change light bulbs to higher wattage bulbs, and clean light fixtures.

SPLASH OF COLOR - A fresh flower arrangement will add color and fragrance to any room. Put fresh, color-coordinated towels in the baths. Set your table with your nicest china.

DON’T SELL THE FURNITURE - Don’t try to complicate the sale by offering to sell your furniture, rugs, or boat to prospects. Don’t call attention to things the buyer might of overlooked by apologizing for the appearance or condition of your home.

THE QUICK CLEAN - Vacuum, clear the dishes and wipe down the counter, make the beds, pick up the laundry, clear the front porch and front yard of toys, hoses, shoes, etc. This may be your only chance with this buyer, so roll up your sleeves and put some elbow-grease into it.

MAKE SHOWING YOUR HOME EASY - Try to cooperate with agents on the time for appointments. Allow for a key box on your home to ensure all available buyers get to see your home. If someone shows up unannounced, ask for 10 minutes for a quick pick-up and dusting, then let them in. If you can, leave the home while the showing is taking place.

Now, as important and as 'fun' as all this is to do, the BIGGEST thing you can ever do to move your home is to PRICE IT COMPETITIVELY! If you overprice your home you are losing about 90% of the buyers that would normally look at your home. From my experience sellers have more success when they price their home at a price that will move and STICK to that price than when they overprice their home thinking someone will come in with a low ball offer.

That being said, good luck! If you need to interview an agent about listing your home, give me a shot. If you need someone to price your home and give you ideas to sell it, call me at 435.760.1466 or email me at kalebkunz@topproducer.com if that's a little less threatening :)

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