Plan to sell your home in 2017? According to Realtor.com, certain blunders can hurt a homeowner’s odds of selling their residence. Here, some tips to follow when placing your property on the market.
Don’t over-improve your home. Homeowners often assume that any upgrades they make will pay them back in full once they sell. That’s rarely the case. On average, you will recoup only about 64 percent of the money spent on renovations once your home sells — and certain improvements actually can work against you if they’re unusual or undesirable in your market. For example, you might consider a new swimming pool a plus, but many homeowners don’t want the hassle of maintaining it.
Do check out a remodeling magazine’s cost versus value report to determine which upgrades provide the best return.You also can ask a Realtor for advice on which amenities are desirable (or nor) in your area
Don’t renovate without permits. Failing to apply for permits before you knock down a wall or add a deck can come back to haunt you when you decide to sell. Without proper permits, buyers may worry whether the work done on your place is up to code, and as a result, refrain from making an offer.
Do pull necessary permits. Building permits usually are required for any renovation that involves opening/building walls, electrical and plumbing changes.
Don’t limit showing hours. Buyers are busy juggling work, family and looking for a new home. If you limit showings to a few hours on weekends, you might miss a potential sale.
Do stay flexible. Cooperate with buyer’s agents who want to show your house, even if it’s inconvenient. Limiting showing times gives buyers the impression that the sellers will be difficult.
Don’t overlook curb appeal. Although you lavish tons of attention on preparing the inside of your home for buyers, it’s easy to overlook the outside. Keep in mind that curb appeal is the first impression buyers have of your home, so it also pays to put some elbow grease into beautifying the exterior.
Do make sure your paint job is pristine and your lawn is tidy and mowed. Be sure to replace any dead shrubs, prune trees, put out some potted plants, mulch garden beds and freshen your mailbox.
Don’t rely heavily on open houses. While open houses once were a great way to sell a house, the vast majority of houses today are sold via the Internet.
Do hold open houses, but don’t depend on them too much. Try to seek out agents who mine for buyers by using the Internet and social media.
Don’t neglect to follow your agent’s advice. You might know more about your home than anyone else, but your real estate agent knows more about how to sell it. Your agent might make some suggestions you won’t like to hear — such as you need a new paint job or that the asking price you had in mind needs to be lowered a bit — but if you ignore your agent’s advice, you could risk seeing your house sit on the market and grow stale.
Do listen to your agent. When it comes to pricing, consider the comps your agent presents. Agents buy and sell hundreds of houses in their career. You’re paying for their experience, so follow their advice.