As Seen in the Naples Daily News and Bonita Daily News
In these crazy market times of bank-owned houses and short sales, here are five things you can do to ensure a smooth, fast sale in choppy waters:
Lower Your Price – I know it’s not always what a seller wants to hear, but this is the #1 thing you can do. Don’t wait either–the worst thing you can do is slowly lower your price over a long period of time and still not sell your property. Drastically lower it now and “shock the market” – that will bring in an offer and closing quickly! How low? It needs to be competitive.
Stage Furniture – If your house is vacant, rent furniture. You need to give buyers the visual experience of where a couch would go, or where the TV would be, etc. Once the house is full, remove any clutter, including personal pictures. When selling, you need the buyer to envision themselves in the house–not some other family.
Clean House – Sounds silly, but this is often overlooked. Make that baby sparkle! Polish all the windows so they are crystal clear. Clean your front door and all your door hardware/handles. Don’t forget the light switches. Anything that a prospective buyer touches should be grime-free.
Consider Curb Appeal – Make sure your lawn is mowed regularly. Trim the hedges and remove all the dead branches off the palm trees. Put down fresh landscaping bark around the flowers. If the paint on the outside of the house is faded, repaint with a fresh color to give the house a whole new look. When a new buyer pulls into your driveway you want the house to “pop.” They’ll want to call it their own before they even set a foot into it!
Make A Mighty Fine Main Entrance – Okay, so you’ve cleaned and repainted your front door. Now, make sure your lock is easy to open with a key (you may have to replace them). If someone is frustrated before even coming into the home, they’re not going to have a good feeling about the place. To finish up, buy a plain black door mat and place red flowers or red flower pots on either side. This incorporates a basic Feng Shui principle that has been used since 250 B.C.–creating a balance of buyer and seller.
Follow these five steps and you’ll soon be stepping away from your home…with a signed offer in hand!
