Whether you thought you would stay there forever or were pretty sure that it was just your starter home, you may eventually find yourself moving on from your first home. There are many reasons for buyers to move to another home—family changes, lifestyle changes, job moves and more. Whatever your reason, the idea of selling your home while trying to buy a new one may seem daunting. However, with a few easy tips, you can be well on your way to selling your home and moving on to the new home that suits your needs. Check out our 4 tips to sell your home fast and keep your stress to a minimum.
Declutter and Depersonalize
Any real estate agent will tell you that it is much easier to sell a home when a buyer can see themselves in it, so decluttering the house is a great place to start. Even better, when you declutter to sell, you may also get rid of a lot of things that you no longer need or want. Why waste time, effort or money moving these items when you can just get rid of them? Before you put your house on the market, go through each room in your home and set aside items to donate, sell, recycle or throw out. Then, go through again and remove personal items like family photos and knick-knacks that can make your space seem smaller than it is. You can pack up items and furniture that you won’t use and store them elsewhere. With a decluttered space, buyers will be able to see the home’s true potential!
Make Small Fixes and Upgrades
We aren’t talking about a kitchen and bath remodel here—but when it comes time to sell your home, a little effort and elbow grease can go a long way toward really making your home shine. Take stock of things that potential buyers might notice that might give them the wrong idea. Although it might not bother you, things like dirty walls, holes in drywall and ripped carpets might make buyers think the home is not well cared for even if it is. Relatively quick fixes like replacing or patching carpet, cleaning baseboards, adding new knobs to kitchen cabinets and even adding new tile grout and caulking in the bathrooms are small tweaks that can make a big difference to buyers.
Create a Welcoming Entrance
Curb appeal is important for sure, but after potential buyers make it past the potted plants on the porch and through the newly painted front door, the welcoming vibes need to continue inside your home. The entrance to your home is its first impression, and you want to make sure it is a good one or buyers could be turned off from the get-go. Put out a welcome mat so buyers can wipe their feet, keeping your home clean as they make their way through. Have something fresh and bright when buyers first walk in, whether fresh flowers or a bowl of colorful fruit, that sets the right tone for buyers from the moment they step inside. For bonus points, you can even leave out bottles of water as a personal touch to help make buyers thirsty from a day of looking at homes more comfortable. In addition, consider the way your home smells before you put it on the market. You may not notice pet or food odors, but your buyers sure will! Don’t go crazy with candles or sprays to mask smells, instead, create a welcoming vibe to your home by doing a deep clean of carpets and furniture so your home smells fresh.
Hire a Trusted Real Estate Agent
When you’re buying a home, the help of a real estate agent comes free of charge. However, when selling a home, a real estate agent makes a commission that can make home sellers question if it might be better to just sell the home themselves. Although selling on your own might save you a few dollars, in the long run, having the expertise of a qualified real estate agent can not only help you sell your home faster, but for top dollar and with minimal hassle. Real estate agents have large networks and can get your home more exposure and can help take care of the stress of showing the home for you. In the end, many buyers decide that a commission is a small price to pay for the services of a real estate agent and the outcomes they can provide. The NC Housing Finance Agency maintains a list of real estate agents who are trained in programs the Agency provides. To check out a list of our preferred real estate agents, visit www.nchfa.com/home-buyers.
Did you know that the NC Home Advantage Mortgage™ with competitive rates and down payment assistance is available for move-up buyers, too? Learn more about all the ways the NC Housing Finance Agency can help make home happen for you at www.nchfa.com.
