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Health & Fitness

The 5 Do's & Don'ts to Selling Your House Fast

Get a Jump start on the Spring Market. With these affordable, yet simple tips your house has a better chance of getting sold!

When it comes to real estate, the spring season is the time for home buying and home selling.

Why the spring? The spring tends to be a less hectic time of year from a scheduling perspective. In the fall, children start school and families are busy adjusting. Then comes the holiday months with holiday shopping and events. The new year brings tax season. Only after that will things clear up for many. The days get longer, the weather gets warmer, and people tend accomplish more during the spring and summer seasons.

As a result, spring is a busier time of year for real estate. So get a jump start on the Spring Market. With these affordable, yet simple tips your house has a better chance of getting sold!

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1. “Curb Appeal”.

I know its a cliché, but it makes a huge difference. Just like a first impression, when a buyer pulls up to the front of your house they are already forming their opinion. The inside of your home could be beautiful, but if you do not have curb appeal the buyer may move on to the next house. 

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Now that spring is approaching, make sure your grass looks lush - pull any weeds, edge the sidewalks, plant some inexpensive flowers that add color to the front of your home. New mulch can make your flower beds pop. Make sure your lawn is free from debris. Trim back any bushes or trees.  This will not only add curb appeal to your house it will also add VALUE. A home well maintained on the outside is more likely to be maintained on the inside.

2.  Wallpaper

Wallpaper is outdated and is an extremely personal touch. Most buyers will prefer a different selection, so  buy some DIF wallpaper remover and get rid of it as well as getting your house out of the 80's.

3.  De-Clutter

You are planning on moving anyway, so why not start a now and remove  your personal items and huge furniture that never fit in your house to begin with.  You need to get rid of them or store them. This looks even better to the buyer, it gives them the impression that you are motivated to sell. De-cluttering will make your house seem larger than another house that is cluttered with the same square footage. Most important is to clean. A buyer want to come into a clean fresh smelling home.

4. Paint

This is another cheap and very effective way that can help your home sell quickly. Painting is one of the best returns on your investment.  Make sure you touch up all the paint on the interior and exterior walls of your home. Make sure the colors you selected are neutral. Not everyone loves the Orange pumpkin color for their kitchen. The buyer that can't paint may feel it would be to difficult to cover. Try to make sure the colors flow from one room to the other. Neutral beige or brown colors seam to be a big hit and the home appears bigger.

5. Trust your agent!

Even if you are not tech savvy make sure your agent is innovative with the latest technology. 96% of buyers are searching for homes online before searching anywhere else.  When interviewing, make sure you pick an agent you can trust.  If your agent suggests something, they obviously know what they are talking about. Your agent wants your home to sell just as fast as you do. If the agent suggests a price reduction, its because of the current market value of your home has declined. I know you are all saying, "My house didn't sell because the agent didn't market my house enough." In most cases if the house sits on the market, there are 2 reasons. One, the home needs TLC or two, you are over priced. Be realistic about the market.Find out what’s selling, and what the average number of days on the market is for homes that are selling. Accept the reality of your local market and make sure you price your home realistically. The worst thing you can do is overprice your home.

Remember: A HOUSE IS ONLY WORTH WHAT A BUYER IS WILLING TO PAY!

 

Deborah Citarella

Coldwell Banker~Westfield~West
600 North Ave - West
Westfield, NJ 07090
cell: 908-577-0977
fax: 908-233-8503
email: deborah.citarella@cbmoves.com

website: www.ColdwellBankermoves.com/Deborah.Citarella

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