Selling a house can be stressful, especially if you’re putting it on the market in the fall. Finding the right real estate agent to partner with to market your home is the first step and one that should not be taken lightly. But, the selling process shouldn’t be placed entirely in your agent’s lap.
Every home seller wants, naturally, to get the best price possible without investing a ton of time and money. A large part of it has to do with making your home stand out from the competition. But you also need to understand the local market and just what is driving sales in the area. Real estate is rapidly evolving, but many elements remain the same – something to keep in mind when trying to maximize profit. Read on for 5 tips from your Shoreline, WA agent to sell your house for the highest price possible.
1. Declutter… Everywhere
As we mentioned, some things you need to do to sell your house in Shoreline, WA for the best price haven’t changed much. The basics remain the same, and one of those is the need for thorough decluttering.
Inspections aren’t just due diligence—they are re-negotiation leverage especially in a buyer’s market. Fixing everything before you list your property may sound like a daunting task with some houses but to every reasonable extent repair anything that’s broken especially the obvious eye-catching ones like rotting wood on the exterior, peeling paint, stains on the floors and carpets, running toilets and dripping faucets, broken lights, cracked windows, electrical switches to nowhere, old termite damage in the attic, and leaks in your foundation or crawl space.
Decluttering – and that often means renting a storage unit to get all that stuff out of sight – will not only make your rooms look larger when you get all that extra furniture out of the way. It can also provide that crucial blank palette effect so that buyers can envision your house as their home, imagining themselves living there with all their belongings in place.
“If you want to sell your house quickly” and {at a better price, agents advise, “do yourself a favor and clear out your space so the flow and square footage of the home is easily seen and highlighted. Also, remove personal items like photos or any highly valuable items since people want to envision their new lives in the home – not yours.”
2. Make Needed Repairs
Another of the basics to sell your house for the highest price possible is making all the needed repairs. Making all those repairs, which the inspection will certainly reveal and the buyer will likely discover in any case, may seem like a lot of expense and effort, but it’s worth it. Unmade repairs will give the buyer more negotiating leverage, and may even cause the deal to fall through.
Here, then, are the agents’ recommendations: “Fixing everything before you list your property may sound like a daunting task with some houses but to every reasonable extent repair anything that’s broken especially the obvious eye-catching ones like rotting wood on the exterior, peeling paint, stains on the floors and carpets, running toilets and dripping faucets, broken lights, cracked windows, electrical switches to nowhere, old termite damage in the attic, and leaks in your foundation or crawl space.”
“Any issues with the home,” they say, “will eventually be discovered by the buyer or during the inspection process and will most certainly cost you one way or another.” Your best bet, then, to get the best price is to work with your Shoreline, WA to determine the most important repairs promising the best ROI. To talk to a Shoreline, WA agent about this, call (206) 578-3438.
3. Price It Right
If you don’t price your house right, the opportunity to sell your house for the highest price possible (and quickly) will be greatly diminished. If you price too low, you’ll leave money on the table, and if you price too high, you may scare buyers away. So you have to get it right
You can do the research and set the price yourself, but almost all sellers are better off using an agent to perform a comparative market analysis (CMA).
“This step is where a good agent is essential. Having your agent complete a comparative market analysis (CMA) will show you what similar properties in the area have sold for recently. Most real estate agents will perform a CMA for free; you can ask for and compare CMAs from multiple agents before you decide which agent to list your home with.”
4. Make it a Great Experience
Another important, but often overlooked, the thing you can do to sell your house for the highest price possible involves doing everything you can to make viewing as pleasant and as immersive as possible for buyers.
First, as we mentioned, you need to have cleaned and decluttered as thoroughly as possible. Then you need to take the necessary steps to make your home a place buyers don’t want to leave, which often results in a sale at a better price.
You should, according to agents, “[T]ake a play from the hospitality industry and make the showing experiential by stimulating all of the senses during a visit from potential buyers. Your home should be clean [and] uncluttered and staged with fresh flowers, fresh paint, fluffed pillows, thoughtful décor, and overall be visually appealing. Turn on the music if you have surround sound. Light the fireplace. The small touches show that you care about your home and are often good indicators of how well kept the home is in less visible areas of the property.”
But there’s more: you need to engage all the buyer’s senses, including smell. “No one wants to smell that you have three stinky dogs or like cooking venison stew in the fall. You could bake cookies, light candles, or run a diffuser with a clean smelling essential oil blend – whatever you decide choose something neutral and universally liked.”
And don’t neglect to enhance curb appeal. It creates that crucial first impression that you’ll never get another shot at.
5. Work With a Local Agent to Sell Your House
Your home is one of your biggest assets so put it in the hands of an agent you trust. From advertising in the right places and presenting it at its best to negotiating strongly on your behalf and managing the process to completion – the right agent is key to a smooth and successful sale.
Finally, as we’ve indicated above, you’ll give yourself a leg up in trying to sell your house for the highest price possible by working with an experienced Shoreline, WA real estate agent. “Finding the right agent can have a big impact on all aspects of selling. It will make it much easier to time your sale, set the right price, and to prepare for listing.” If your goal is to sell your house for the highest price possible, then contact us today at (206) 578-3438.
