How to Sell Your Home Without Leaving a Penny on the Table

Winn Properties Video Real Estate Blog With Bo Winn

There are 10 things you must know if you want to sell your home for top dollar and leave no pennies on the table.

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What are the 10 things you absolutely must know to sell your home without leaving a penny on the table?
1. Neutralize your home. Strong statements of wallpaper and paint may appeal to a select group of people, but most will see it as additional work if they buy the home. Paint, wallpaper, and carpet are usually matched with furniture that will change, so stay with neutral colors so all buyers can see their furniture in the home.
2. Depersonalize your home. The buyer must see the house as their new home. Too many personal family items, pictures, trophies, posters, etc. will hinder this process. A few personal items are fine, but if you find yourself looking in each room at your things and not at the room, it’s time to remove some items and get the room down to the bare essentials.
3. Declutter your home. Take everything off the floor that does not have to be there. More floor space makes the home seem larger. The same goes for countertops. Clutter is worse than dirt. Too much stuff makes the house confusing, and the buyer’s mind gets cluttered. Start packing! You’re moving anyway.
4. Attack odors. People buy homes with all their senses. You may not be able to smell your pet, but believe me, others can. Strong food odors are also a turnoff. I used to buy frozen cookie dough and cut it into small pieces and put a piece or two on a cookie sheet in the oven at about 200 degrees for 30 minutes prior to a showing.
5. Have a garage sale. I’ve shown hundreds of properties, and what people are most surprised by is a nice, clean, orderly garage. It speaks to the care that you take toward the rest of the house, and with a bit of effort, you can purge through things you no longer use or need and you will make room to pack your boxes.
6. Horizontal surfaces. The eye naturally scans a room from left to right. By clearing off tables, minimizing shelves, and taking things off of your kitchen and bathroom counters, you are not only able to start packing, but you will be making your home more visibly pleasing for the purchaser.

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If a buyer is at your front door, you should always open it.

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7. Mentally prepare yourself. Having your home on the market is never convenient. Buyers are on the hunt, and in addition to having your home ready, you must be mentally prepared to adjust your schedule in catering to these buyers.
8. Be flexible. If a buyer is at your front door, you should always open it. If they are in the yard, then they are excited and ready to see it. Leaving work at a moment’s notice may be necessary to land the buyer, so be ready. Otherwise, something better may just be around the corner for those buyers.
9. Don’t show your cards. As an agent, my job is to keep the buyer and seller apart. I ask my clients not to be home when their house is being shown. This is not possible as a FSBO (For Sale By Owner), so make sure not to let on where you are going because it could affect your bottom line.
10. Ask an expert such as myself. I have helped hundreds of home sellers obtain top dollar. Some paid me a commission, others did not. I am happy to be your resource. Everybody needs a good Realtor—even FSBOs.
If you are selling your home or looking to buy a new one and would like to schedule a strategy session, please don’t hesitate to give me a call. If you’d like to receive a copy of my “90-Step Marketing Plan” or you’d like to learn more about my team, visit Bowinn.com.
I look forward to speaking with you!