Even in today’s seller’s market, it’s still super important to spend the extra time and energy to position the home you’re selling well so you can get the best deal possible. A few adjustments and you’ll be separated from the competition and have the ability to sell for more money, which let’s be honest, for most (if not all) sellers is the goal. Over the years, I’ve learned a few tips that when implemented really made a difference in a seller’s success, so I’m sharing them with you in today’s blog post. Whether you’re selling your own home or are an agent who can be a resource to your client by sharing this knowledge, these tips are need-to-know in my book.

Put Some Effort Into Your Curb Appeal

As potential buyers walk up to the property, they need to already like what they see. If the front yard and porch look like shit, buyers immediately go into a showing forming an opinion you probably won’t like. You only get one shot at a first impression so don’t neglect curb appeal. Here are a few ways to easily make improvements:

• Clear out all debris in the front yard
• Cut the grass and prune the bushes
• Touch up the exterior pant
• Add some potted plants or flowers by the front door
• If applicable, add some pillows or other accessories to the patio furniture

Stage Your Home

Moving on to the inside of the house, my next tip is to stage the home. It helps the buyer picture the home in action and truly understand the size and layout of the property, which is harder to do with a completely empty home. Staging really depends on the home itself because obviously, each home can be so different. But overall, I’d say when it comes to home staging, keep it simple and keep it neutral. You don’t want a bunch of clutter everywhere like large ottomans or too many plants because it will shrink the room.

Focus on capturing the buyer’s interest from the moment they walk in- use a new area rug, hang some interesting art or a mirror, or even something as simple as adding flowers can make a difference, but don’t do TOO much. In the kitchen, a few (as in 1-2) nice appliances can stay on the counters, but otherwise, keep it clean.

Get Rid of Personal Items

Along with staging, a huge tip to take note of is to get rid of your personal items. When a buyer enters the home, they want to be able to picture themselves living there. They already start thinking about their furniture and decor moving in, and themself in the space. While your family photos and sentimental mementos are lovely, they aren’t something that should be present when showing a home. If buyers are distracted by your personal items, chances are it will be harder for them to picture themselves in the home, meaning they won’t be making an offer.

Light Things Up

Among other qualities, lighting is one of the top things that buyers cite they want in their home. As a seller, that means you need to maximize the light in your home. Take down the drapes, clean out the windows, change out the lampshades, do whatever you need to do to bring in more light (especially natural light) into the home. The more light means your home will feel brighter and airier, which ultimately will make it more sellable.

Be Prepared for a Fast Pace

Once your property is listed, things can move very quickly. Make sure you’re prepared ahead of time so you can be present and responsive to potential offers. Get all of the necessary documents filled out (like seller disclosures) and have paperwork ready for any recent repair work, renovation costs, etc for any buyer requests that come in. If you move slowly and/or aren’t very responsive, it’s much easier for a buyer to walk away. In short, if you’re selling your home, be prepared and do the work in advance to get the sale.

Shift Your Mindset

Selling a home can be difficult, but instead of thinking of it as your home is being sold, think of it as a simple transaction- a product is being sold. Shifting your mindset to feel more transactional will help take some of the emotion out of it and allow you to consider concessions from the buyer if they ask. I know it might seem a little harsh but at the end of the day, it’s not personal, and the goal is to sell your property! You wouldn’t want to lose the buyer, have to put the property back on the market and start all over again, potentially getting a lower offer. Take a step back and evaluate what requests are fair and offer something.