So, you have decided to sell your home, and you want to sell it quick and for the most amount of money possible. The final sale price of your property is dependent on many different factors, but there are strategies that can help sell your home for more than what market value dictates. While there isn’t a specific secret of selling your home for 15% more in Dallas, TX, there are certain tips and tricks you can implement to boost the sales price and sell your home quick.
Hire the Right Agent
The #1 secret of selling your home for 15% more in Dallas, TX is to hire the right agent. This is why it is so important to interview a couple of different agents and make sure that you hire the person that you think will do the best job in selling your home. If the agent is unresponsive, doesn’t market your property right, doesn’t negotiate well and isn’t well-versed in overseeing a transaction from start to finish then the deal could fall out of escrow or the buyer will end up getting a better deal while the seller loses money. We’re going to go over a couple of suggestions that could significantly boost the sales price of your home in this post, but if you’re working with the right agent, they will not only reiterate what we’ve written here but they will add to it. If you’re looking for a professional, experienced real estate agent to sell your Dallas, TX home please contact us to learn more about our team and how we can be of assistance.
Price It Right
The best way to quickly sell your home for 15% more than what market value dictates is to price it right the first time you list it – this will make the property appeal to the maximum number of buyers. Pricing strategy is something that you will discuss at length with your real estate agent, and they will be responsible for guiding you during this process. Your agent should pull up comps in the area that show homes similar to yours that have sold within the last six months to a year and use that as a guide. Market trends will also play a role in pricing – if there is strong demand and low inventory then it is a seller’s market, which works in your favor. If the opposite is true – low demand and/or high inventory, then you may want to reconsider listing at this time if you are trying to achieve the highest sales price possible.
Invest in Proper Marketing
The best way to sell your house for 15% more in Dallas, TX and to sell it quick is to make sure that your home has maximum exposure and reaches as many potential buyers as possible. Proper marketing will be the main responsibility of your real estate agent, but realistically it will be a joint effort. The first step to listing a home for sale is to prepare and stage it for professional photos. If the images in an online listing are dark and blurry, if they show clutter and disarray or if there are only a handful of images uploaded then it won’t be an attractive listing. Take the time to prepare your home for professional images by cleaning, decluttering, painting and fixing anything that needs to be fixed and maybe even consider staging – your agent will guide you through this process, so the property is perfect when it’s time to take photos. Your agent should also suggest putting together a video slideshow, or better yet a virtual tour that will allow buyers to explore the home before they schedule an in-person visit. Additionally, your agent should recommend some type of online advertising such as Facebook ads – there are certain marketing strategies that can be implemented so that your home is exposed to a specific demographic that is searching for a property just like yours. Marketing is the best way to make sure that your property stands out from the competition and is exposed to as many people as possible.
First Impressions Matter
The first thing a buyer will see when they pull up to a property listed for sale is the front yard, which means that curb appeal is one of the most important areas to focus on before you list your home. Make sure that the grass is lush and trimmed, bushes are tidy, flowers are blooming and that the home looks great too. You will want to fix any major cracks, broken windows or frames, repaint the front door if necessary and anything else that will help increase the curb appeal of the home. Keep in mind that a home that is clean will be attractive to buyers, whereas a home that is dark, cluttered, sticky and dirty will turn them away before they even check out all of the bedrooms. The best way to get your home clean, spotless and looking its best is to hire a professional cleaning company. A professional company will make sure that your kitchen and bathrooms are sparkling clean and that every other corner of the home is shining. If you need to replace or professionally steam clean your carpets, we encourage you to get that done as well. Even though it may seem like you are spending a lot of money to prepare your home for sale this is one of those things where spending a little bit up front can really make a difference in the final sale price.
Focus on Upgrades That Add Value
Many homeowners believe that the more upgrades they add to their home the faster it will sell and for a higher price – this is not always true. When renovating a home, you want to focus on upgrades that will make a difference when you’re ready to sell, and you also don’t want to over-upgrade to the point where your home is the most expensive in the neighborhood. If homes in your community are selling for $450,000 and you are trying to sell yours for over $600,000 because of all of the upgrades you invested in, you will fall short. The most important renovations that add value to your home include a kitchen renovation, bathroom remodel, energy-efficient windows, a new garage door, landscape design, minor exterior improvements and basic maintenance that ensure the home is in the best shape possible.
Take Advantage of Good Lighting
A bright and cheery home is more inviting to buyers, in comparison to dark and dreary properties that always have the curtains drawn. As silly as it may sound, lighting is one of the most important factors when selling a home, and we encourage our clients to take every step to maximize the lighting in a property. Did you know that apart from location, lighting in a home has been cited as the next most important “must-have” from buyers? If your home is positioned to receive natural light, then make sure to open up the blinds and curtains and clean the windows. If there is a lack of natural light, there are some steps to take that will help even the darkest corners of your home brighten up. Good artificial lighting can make a huge difference. Additionally, you can change the lampshades, increase the wattage of light bulbs, take down curtains and drapes and trim the bushes and trees outside your home to allow sunshine in. Small things like lighting can make a very significant difference in the sale of your home with little to zero money coming out of your pocket.
Avoid Personal Touches
Keep in mind that when a buyer is walking through a home that is listed for sale, they are trying to picture their belongings and their life in this space. As you prepare for showings and open houses take the time to de-personalize your home and put away things like family photos, memorabilia collections and other keepsakes. Clearing away personal items will also help to declutter the home further, which will be really appealing to buyers. Your agent will guide you on what you should and shouldn’t put away, or you can hire a professional home stager to assist and maximize the full potential of your home.
Deciding to sell your home is more than just hiring an agent, listing it for sale on the MLS and waiting for the offers to roll in. It takes a few weeks, sometimes a couple of months, to prepare your home so it’s ready to be sold and you may also have to come up with some out-of-pocket cash to ensure the property is in good shape. Whether you are selling your first home or you are an experienced buyer/seller, it’s always helpful to work with an experienced agent who has your best interest at heart and can support you through the process. To learn more about how to prepare your home for sale and how to sell your home for more please reach out to our team. We have more than 25 years of experience with Texas real estate and we look forward to helping you with all of your real estate needs.