The decor of your home appeals to you, but may not to potential buyers.
You may have a beautifully decorated home, but what works for you may turn off buyers that visit. Your goal should be to present a neutral look, one that appeals to the masses. Start to believe that “less is more”! While you don’t have to pay to have your home staged (though many times I will advise you do), de-cluttering and opening up your space will pay off when it comes time to sell.
Don’t keep secrets from your agent.
You might be afraid that recent water damage or signs of termites will hurt your sale and keep the listing price low, but don’t keep any of your home’s flaws to yourself. Sellers must disclose any problems with their property. If you agent isn’t aware of things that need to be addressed, it could become an issue with your transaction down the line.
Remodeling doesn’t always payoff.
Retiling a bathroom floor or changing out light fixtures may seem like a good idea to help sell your home, but there is no guarantee that you’ll see that reflected in a higher sales price. Some upgrades may see a payback, but don’t count on it. Also consider this…are you remodeling for your taste, what you’ve always wanted? Again, the goal is to present a neutral look. You may love vintage ceiling lights, but potential buyers may not.
You may have to fix some things.
You may not even not even notice the scratched up trim, dings in wall and broken door knobs anymore, but potential buyers will. Take some time to remove these distractions and protect your sales price from being knocked down.
Only one chance at a first impression.
Curb appeal is your home’s first impression. Mold and mildew on the house, roof, or driveway? Dead or overgrown plants in the yard? Park where a potential buyer would and walk towards the house, looking around you as if it were your first visit. Is the approach clean and tidy? What could you do to improve that first impression?
