We just recently sold our starter home for $5,000 over asking price! I was so happy that we were able to get more than we thought we could just by doing some small improvements that paid off big time! Here are some tips you can use to get top dollar for your house, too.
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Even if you need to sell your home quickly, there are always some simple updates and improvements you can do to make your home welcoming to buyers.
We had our house on the market for only three days and received eight different offers!
A lot of people just don’t want to take the time to make updates and changes themselves. If you do it for them, they are more likely to purchase your home over others.
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Tips to Get Top Dollar for your House
You may be asking, “How do I get the best price for my house?” The first thing you need to do is some research. Zillow does not count! So many people list their home with the estimate that Zillow gives you. Zillow is just that…an estimate.
You may be able to sell your home for so much more. On the other hand, if you haven’t updated your home at all, you may need to list at a much lower price than the Zillow estimate.
You need to sit down with your realtor to come up with a listing price. They can see if there are any other homes for sale in your area that are similar to yours and what they are selling for.
Also, take into consideration any improvements that you have done: new appliances, new flooring, new paint, etc.
Location is also another important factor. Are the schools in the area good? All of this will be taken into account to see what you can list your home for.
If you can, try to list your home at the beginning of May. Sellers who list their home at this time of year get more money for their homes than any other time.
There are more buyers looking during this time and will want to be in their home before the school year starts. That means more competition for your home!
What to Fix Up when Selling a House
Even if money is tight, there are always DIY improvements you can do to make your home more attractive to buyers. Always start with what buyers will see first.
Most people decide if they want to buy your house within the first 30 seconds of seeing it. A good impression is key to getting top dollar for your house.
You can easily add some curb appeal on a budget. Add some fresh flowers to the entry way and put a coat of fresh paint on the front door.
We actually purchased an electric pressure washer and it was the best investment. We cleaned the driveway, walk way, patio, and exterior of the house for less than $130!
Replace any outdated light fixtures, door knobs, and kitchen fixtures. This is especially important if your house was built in the 80’s or 90’s. It’s such a simple fix and is very inexpensive!
Flooring and paint have the most return on investment when it comes to selling your house. Rip up that old carpet and put in some laminate flooring, the kind that looks like hardwood.
If you don’t have a lot of money to spend on paint, focus on repainting only the living room and kitchen as these are the first rooms people will see. Do a neutral color like cream or gray.
You can also do some of these small kitchen updates without renovating.
More Tips for Selling your Home
Getting Ready for Showings
If you want to get top dollar for your house, you have to make it shine. Before you list your house, give it a good deep clean. You can even hire help on sites like Care.com for someone to come clean it for you if you don’t have the time.
Once everything is clean and the clutter is put away, keep it that way. You always want your home to be ready for showings when you get the call.
Get rid of any bulky furniture if you can. The less furniture in a room, the larger it will feel.
Hire a Photographer
Most people shop for homes online. You want to have stunning photos that will entice people to come to your house for a showing.
Hire a professional photographer to come help you set up your home and take gorgeous pictures. This made the difference when we listed our house.
The photos of our house were gorgeous and we had 20 showings in the first two days that it was listed on the market!
During Showings
In order to get top dollar for your house, the showings must go well. I advise getting out of the house for each and every showing. As a buyer, it can be so uncomfortable when the owner is there.
If you have pets, see if you can take them with you or if the neighbor will watch them. Some buyers may be allergic or scared of your pets.
Remember to open all of the curtains and blinds to let in as much light as possible. People want to see how pretty your home is!
By using these tips to sell your home, you should get top dollar for your house. Moving can be stressful enough, take some of the pressure off by knowing you did all you could to get the most money for you home.
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