When it comes to real estate, there’s one universal truth — every seller wants to get the best value for their home and every buyer wants the best deal. While it’s the broker’s job to negotiate and help properly price the home, there are certainly things that a seller can do to improve the prospect of a sale. In a competitive market like Miami and Miami Beach, your home could stand out if you follow these tips!
Tip #1: Improve Curb Appeal — You know what they say, the first impression is the last impression. In reference to selling your home, that means that a buyer’s first impressions are of the driveway and the façade of the house. Ask unbiased third parties, like a Realtor, family member or friend if it looks appealing. If it doesn’t, try painting the exterior a neutral color, adding inexpensive shrubs or bright flowers. Definitely keep the lawn mowed and always have the outside free of debris. Remember, before buyers even enter your home, they’ve already judged the exterior.
Tip #2: Light Up Your Home — Although it seems like common sense, a bright, airy home is much more attractive than a dark one. Yet, so many people overlook the importance of plentiful lighting. If your home doesn’t have abundant natural light, consider taking down the drapes or blinds. If that doesn’t work, try changing your light bulbs to LED ones, adding additional lamps, or simply changing your lamp shades. If you have mundane light fixtures, consider replacing one of them with an eye-catching chandelier ̶ there’s plenty of charming, inexpensive ones on the market these days.
Tip#3: Update the Kitchen — The kitchen is the heart of the home and should be adequately maintained. If the cabinets look a little drab, change the knobs or handles or consider giving them a fresh coat of paint, or replacing them all together. If they’re in good condition but just need some sprucing up, consider changing the handles. Next, make sure your appliances all work and preferably all match. A little known secret is that appliance panels are sometimes dual sided ̶ one side is white and the other black. So, if your microwave and refrigerator are black but your dishwasher is white, simply unscrew the panel and check the other side. Worst case scenario, you can always order a new piece from the manufacturer. Buyers focus substantially on the kitchen and will knock thousands of dollars off of the asking price if it looks like it’s in bad shape, so it’s best to make some inexpensive changes wherever possible.
Tip #4: Liven the Landscaping — The difference between a lovely lawn or backyard and a dull, lifeless one can be imprinted in a buyer’s mind forever. Think about it: if you walk through a home surrounded by greenery and flowers, your mind is immediately stimulated by all of the natural beauty, making you more susceptible to liking the home and having an open mind towards the rest of the house. So if you’re contemplating getting some landscaping done, stick to buying native species such as carissa, ferns and palm trees, as they will adapt best, live longest, and require the least maintenance, making them less expensive.
Tip #5: De-Clutter & De-Personalize — Few things turn off buyers more than a messy home full of personal belongings that they can’t relate to, and a cluttered home can actually make it appear smaller to buyers. If you have a lot of things around your home, even if they’re just decorative, think about storing them until you sell your home. Your style might not be someone else’s and it could certainly distract them from envisioning your house as their own. Put your personal pictures away, don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink, clean your home, and try your best to make it look as neutral and uncluttered as possible. Most people like to start off on a clean slate, so keep that in mind and clear the space before every showing and open house.
Tip #6: Upgrade the Bathrooms — Bathrooms are a place of hygiene, and should adhere to the highest standards of cleanliness and sanitation. No one likes to see stains, dirty towels or moldy shower curtains, so make sure your bathrooms are always spotless. Organize your beauty products and put as many of them away as possible. If your toilet or sink are outdated, consider updating them. If the bathtub has drip stains, definitely buy a stain-remover and fix it yourself. Light a candle (stay clear of vanilla scented ones) before showings or open houses to leave a pleasant, lasting impression on buyers.
Tip #7: Take Your Pets — Lastly, keep in mind that while you may love your furry family members, not everyone else feels the same way about animals. Some people are scared of them or may be allergic, so to be safe, take them out of the house whenever buyers are there. It’s also important that you put away their toys, food and water bowls, bones, scratching posts, litter box and anything else that hints at their existence. Clean up after them, especially if they shed, invest in lint rollers to remove excess pet hair, and make sure they leave no traces in the yard. If you have multiple pets, it’s a great idea to light a candle or use some scented spray to make sure your home smells like roses and not like cat litter or wet dog!
If you’re thinking about putting your house on the market, or if it’s been on it for a long time and hasn’t sold, give these simple tips a try. You’ll be surprised at how big of a difference you can make with little or no money at all. A deep clean alone has the potential to make your home look as good as new, so remember, it’s not just about how much you spend on upgrades or finishes, it’s about how nice and well-kept your home actually looks!
If you are ever in South Florida – be sure to contact me (Felise Eber) for your real estate buying and selling needs.
The picture shown above is an exclusive listing of The Jills and can be found at: http://www.thejills.com/fisher-island-mls-listing/A10108023.htm
