10 Must Read Tips Before Listing Your Carmel CA Home
Hello from Bri Steel, Broker/Realtor® & Owner of Bixby Realty!
Let me share with you my checklist of the 10 most important things to do before you put a house on the market. I have more than 10 years of experience as a real estate agent and have sold many homes because I followed this list and other secrets. I want to share these tips with you so you can stay ahead of the market and learn from the best.
1. Sit Down with your Agent First
This is a big decision that usually involves significant financial and emotional components. We know we are great to work with, but you should make this decision yourself.
2. Be the Buyer
Put yourself in the shoes of your ideal buyer when considering how to display or price your home. What does your home look like? What is it worth to you?
3. Price Strategically
Review the market with your broker and develop a strategy that works for you. People are often surprised to learn that selling quickly and selling at the highest price often go hand in hand. If you price too aggressively, your home may stay on the market for a long time and you may still end up with a lower sale price than if you had priced it a little lower, to begin with.
4. First Impressions 101
The first impression is the only impression that counts. Make sure your home looks presentable inside and outside.
5. Staging 101
Well-executed staging can increase the price and decrease your home's time on the market. There are many professional home staging companies. Our clients often complain that they wish their home had looked this good when they lived there, once our stagers are done with their place.
6. Take Care of the Little Things
Small improvements to your home can go a long way. Does your door trim look shabby? Fix it. Is a faucet handle missing? Does the faucet look shabby? Replace it. Smaller updates like light fixtures, door handles, and kitchen hardware can make your home attractive to potential buyers. It also shows them that it's a well-kept home.
7. De-Clutter
Make sure the space is tidy and removes unnecessary items on floors, tabletops, and countertops. If you do not need it, put it away in the closet!
8. Be Upfront
Tell your realtor and potential sellers if there is a health or safety issue in your home. They can help you find a good contractor to fix the problem and increase the value of your home! You are not responsible for things you do not know about, but if you are hiding something, you could be in trouble.
9. Keep it Tidy
Requests to view your home can come at any time. Keep your home clean and presentable and have a plan to be absent within the hour to allow viewings. If you make it difficult for buyers, your best buyer may not even get to see your home.
10. Look for the Win-Win in Negotiations
An inspection will likely cost hundreds of dollars and is worth every penny. Not only is it a time to find health and safety issues that you can then negotiate with the seller to fix, but it's also a time to spend with an inspector and learn some of the technical aspects of the home.
Parting Words!
The process of putting your house on the market is nerve-wracking. Give yourself a break by giving your home a little facelift to make it more attractive to other interested families. Follow these tips and watch your home come off the market and meet your asking price.
At Bixby Realty we bring a fresh and innovative “boutique” approach to real estate on the Monterey Peninsula. In the process, we make dreams come true.
Looking to sell? We will make your home SHINE. Listings like ours that are beautifully presented and professionally inspected sell faster and for more money.
Looking to buy? We help our clients write offers that WIN. We are competitors at heart and negotiators at work. We get results.
Call or email us to set up an appointment with our broker and owner, Bri Steel.
Bri Steel
Broker/Realtor® + Owner
Bixby Realty
831.200.6338
bri@bixbyrealty.com
Bri Steel at the Bixby Realty office with her two mini Aussies Kiwi and Fiji.
