You may be thinking of selling your home, but every time you think about beginning the process, your mind starts spinning with the various things you’ve heard your friends say about the real estate market. Is spring really the only time you should put your house on the market? Should you be shopping for a new home before you list? Are your zebra-print and tie-dye décor going to turn off buyers (that’s a firm yes, by the way).
Sorting out what’s real from what’s myth in the process of selling your home can have a big impact on how quickly you get an offer, and a good one! Take a look at a few of the more common misconceptions that we hear from potential sellers:
The exterior looks a little rough, but the interior will sell the house. People generally form an opinion about your home before they ever cross the threshold. From online pictures to driving by, the role of curb appeal can’t be overstated. Here’s the good news: in a few hours over a weekend and with a small budget, you can make a big impact. Trim weeds and dead branches, plant a few flowers and power wash the walk and driveway. You’ll make a big impact with a small effort.
A clean house doesn’t need staging. It’s not enough to sweep the floors and make sure your wet towels are out of sight anymore (though this is still important). A professional staging service knows how to make your home appeal to a wide range of buyers by making small, but important, changes to your décor. From removing the window dressing where there’s a spectacular view to stashing your ‘NSync memorabilia, they know what could turn a buyer away.
You can easily do what a realtor does and sell the house yourself. Your realtor does more than stick a sign in your yard and post a few pictures of your house online. When it comes to choosing the right offer and negotiating through the process to the closing, your realtor will know when to push and when it’s time to walk away from a bad deal. They will do a lot of work behind the scenes to market your property, or to find a reputable painter when you suddenly realize you’ve got five days until your open house and your walls are still that unfortunate pumpkin spice color from the early 2000s.
If you miss your best homes sales window in spring, there’s no point in listing. There are buyers looking during every season, and listing your home during the fall or winter can sometimes land you a great price. If your home has a beautiful view of the woods behind your home, it might be ideal to list it just when the leaves are expected to turn. Or you might have a particularly winter-friendly home because it’s painted in warm colors and there are two fireplaces or a heated flooring system in the bathroom. Talk with Dani Beyer Real Estate about how to showcase your home in its best light, no matter what the season.
It’s best to wait until your home is under contract before you start looking for your new home. While you’re probably going to be busy preparing your house for listing, it’s important to balance your efforts with taking time to look for a new home. Otherwise, you may be rushed into a decision if you receive an offer on your current home shortly after it’s listed. You could also end up needing to move twice because you won’t close on your new home soon enough to make it a seamless transition.
Selling your home is fun and exciting when you work with Dani Beyer Real Estate. And don’t worry about all these myths. We’ll give you all the tools you need to capture your home in its best possible light and get a great price. Contact us today!