5 Success Tips for First-Time Home Sellers

Selling a home can be very lucrative, but you need to make sure you don’t make any major mistakes. Many first-time sellers hit roadblocks that end up costing them precious time and money. Here are five simple tips that’ll help you sell your home quickly and at the right price:

Focus on Minor Upgrades
Unless you have endless funds to spend on major renovation projects, you should stick to minor upgrades. A handful of inexpensive updates could potentially increase the value of your property by thousands of dollars. Some easy projects to consider include painting the walls, replacing old faucets and installing new light fixtures. You’ll also need to spend some time cleaning and decluttering your home before any potential homebuyers come inside.

Don’t Neglect Your Home’s Curb Appeal
Some buyers might not even ask to see your home if it looks dingy or outdated from the street. Luckily, improving your home’s curb appeal doesn’t have to be an expensive or time-consuming process. In addition to mowing the lawn, getting rid of weeds and trimming the bushes, you should also pick up any clutter in your front yard and consider planting some fresh flowers. Painting your front door is another simple way to improve the appearance of your home’s exterior and make it more appealing to buyers.

Be Ready to Make Sacrifices
You’ll probably need to make at least a few sacrifices if you want the offers to start coming in. A buyer might ask for small favors like leaving a few of the appliances behind; carefully consider these. Making a few small concessions could result in an immediate bid. You might also have to sacrifice your nights and weekends so that buyers who work during the day can see your home.

Work With a Real Estate Professional
Working with an experienced real estate agent is possibly the best step that you can take to make this process a little bit easier. An agent can help you stage your home and connect you directly to motivated buyers. These professionals almost always work on commission, and that means you won’t have to worry about any unmanageable upfront costs.

Set the Right Price
Before you put your home on the market, you also need to come up with a fair asking price. Overpricing your home could drive away interested parties and make the process much more stressful than it needs to be. Conversely, setting a price too low could mean you miss the opportunity to make more money off the sale. Again, this is where a real estate agent can add value; a professional has the expertise to gauge market conditions and other factors to come up with the best asking price for your property.

By following these five tips, you’ll be in a much better position to sell your home.

Source: Hannah Whittenly/RISMedia’s Housecall