1) Don't price it 20% higher than other homes in the neighborhood
2) Consider offering a Virtual Tour for home inspection. 60% of home buyers now research homes on the net before driving out for a visit.
Check Virtual Tours www.virtualtours.com. It's credited for providing a 40% increase in home sales with clients..
3) Landscape- think green. Transforming the yard into a stunning oasis, can pump up the property value at least 15%
Ensure the garden ties into the outdoor architecture, and marry indoor and outdoor spaces.
Receive free advice from your local nursery. A great Realtor can offer suggestions for staging as well.
Remember though, less maintenance is more, and florals (eg Breath
of Heaven) are nice fragrances that appeal to senses.
4) Indoor décor - Feature some shady trees, they can reduce
indoor Air Conditioning costs by 15-25%.
By the way, don't block
natural light from coming into the windows.
5) In-Ground Sprinkler Systems - these may also help
increase home value but can range from $1,500-10K.
If you're in a
middle or upper class area, consider this feature.
6) Use Simple Renovations to open up parts of the home to seem like it's bigger.
7) Floors – At a minimum, shampoo rugs and wax
the floors. Definitely Polish or Refinish hardwood floors.
Installing new floors can be expensive so get an expert
opinion before doing so…
NOTE: For cheap but good carpet, visit a factory carpet outlet or Home Builder's
sales offices to purchase used carpet installed in Model Homes at a big discount.
8) New Paint – the new paint smell does wonders for giving it a 'new
home' feel. Color and textures are key, but don't go nuts. Make
sure it works within rooms you use it. Use blues and greens to make
it feel cooler. Yellows, oranges and reds give a warm feeling.
Clean, soft tones like
white and off beige NEVER FAIL, and make a smaller room
appear larger.
Tip: I suggest using a spray gun in to do the job quickly.
9) Closet, Storage Spaces and Cabinets – "out of sight" isn't out of mind.
Clean these out and keep them almost bare.
10) Home Staging – This creates an appealing atmosphere. For luxury
properties, it's worth it to hire a decorating professional. They'll
assist you in renting the necessary furniture, tapestries, and pictures to dress-up a home
for a showing.
This can truly help provide the property with a personality and fetch a higher
price and potential for a fast house flip
NOTE:
Professionally staged properties sell in about 14 days and rake in 4x
the average markup on staged abodes vs homes sitting empty on the market for 6-9
mos.
Declutter: toss away the garbage and sell remnants on eBay, or just give it away for free
Depersonalize: put away the family pics because you're showing to strangers.
I'd recommend removing some furniture to make it feel spacious so potential house buyers can visualize themselves in the home.
