Get Ready, Get Set, Sell Your Home!

Have you been considering selling your home? If so, your timing is great! Now is an excellent time to sell. The market is changing and there are more advantages for sellers today than there was a year ago. Home prices are up and low inventories keep the prices rising and the competition strong. The low interest rates and the summer season have buyers wanting to buy now! So, whether you are thinking about selling because you have outgrown your home, you want to downsize or you just want to get out from under your mortgage, now is the time to get your house on the market!

Homeowners want to sell want to get the best price for their home. However, what does it take to achieve the best possible outcome? Selling a home can be stressful. Homeowners have to be prepared both physically and mentally to do what it takes to get their house sold quickly and for the best price. Therefore, the most important first step to take is to select an experienced real estate agent who is willing work for you and help you stage your home in a way where buyers can visualize their life in your home.

This is extremely important because it can be emotionally challenging to view your house through a different set of eyes and a new perspective. Your house has been your castle. However, you have to let go of what makes your house your home so a future buyer can see it as theirs.[img title="More..." alt="" src="http://pinkrealty.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif" data-mce-src="http://pinkrealty.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif">

A good agent will let you know what needs to go, what needs to stay and what needs to be arranged to provide the best stage for buyers to see it as their own. This can mean removing everything out of a room except what is completely essential or re-arranging furniture pieces to allow for more space. Be prepared to clear your kitchen counters, dressers, vanities and nightstands of everything except the bare necessities. You may have to give up your big, over-stuffed recliner to make way for a standard sized chair. While you and your family may take great pride in how your home is decorated, a future buyer does not have the same stake. They are not interested in seeing your children's artwork that covers the family room wall, the family pictures that line the hallway, your daughter's beanie baby collection that takes up half the bedroom, or your husband's sport collection that decorates your basement. These end up being distractions to a buyer that can hinder them from visualizing rooms with their own decor tastes.

Again, this is a difficult process for most sellers. It is hard to pack up things that are near and dear to your heart. Just remember it is only temporary! It won't be long and you will be able to unpack everything and make your new home yours again. Listen to your agent and take their advice. This is the first big step toward selling your home quickly and for the best price!

Once everything is out, you and your real estate agent can easily see what else must be changed or fixed to give your home the best advantage over other houses on the market. This may mean painting some rooms to either change bright or bold colors back to colors that are more neutral or just putting a fresh coat of paint on for a cleaner, brighter look. You may have to patch some holes left behind from pictures or paintings that were taken down and make some minor repairs such as fix a leaky faucet or adjust a door so it closes easily. While these minor fixes may not seem like much, they can make a huge difference to a buyer. Once the clutter is gone and the cosmetic work and repairs are done, it's cleanup time!

Make your house sparkle! You want to present a clean and clutter free home. You can tackle one task at a time or one room at a time, but pay attention to the details. Clean the windows inside and out. Clean the carpets and the floors. Make the kitchen and bathrooms shine. Once your house is clean, keep it clean and in show ready condition.

Once the inside is ready for viewing, it is time to take look at the outside of your house. Through unbiased eyes look at your house and take notice to anything that may hinder good curb appeal. Are the bushes and shrubs trimmed, is the lawn manicured, does the garden need fresh mulch, and do the kids toys need to be put away? Pay as much attention to the outside of your house as you do the inside. If a buyer does not like what they see from the curb, they may drive on by without giving the inside of your home a chance.

Your goal should be to show off all of your home's advantages and as few drawbacks as possible. Taking the advice of your agent will help you do this. Because there are so few houses on the market, buyers have started to accept the fact that maybe they will not find that perfect house. Therefore, they are more willing to compromise on some of the items on their wish list if they can find a good quality home. Maybe your home has a small kitchen or the layout isn't exactly what a buyer had in mind, but if the house is move in ready condition and there are no major repairs that have to be done, it could mean the difference in a buyer submitting an offer or walking away.