Selling a Pittsburgh home can be exciting, fun, and a great way to de-clutter before you move to your new home! It can also be a headache, take forever, and never see results IF you DON’T follow the advice of an expert Pittsburgh real estate agent. Not all agents are as skilled with home selling-and certainly if you need quick results, there are many things you can do to get your home sold, even in a slower market.
There is a top ten list that I tell all my home owners to follow, at the minimum. These quick and easy tips will help you tremendously when it comes to making your home appeal to the buyer.
1. REMEMBER THAT FIRST IMPRESSIONS LAST. So if you have a mail box that is rusted, crooked and falling over, even if that is the only broken thing in the house, you are already setting the buyer up to expect your house to have maintenance issues, so they will be looking with an even more critical eye. And you certainly don’t want them to refer to your home as “the one with the broken stuff” when they buyers sit down to go over their options. Lesson? Fix everything that is broken.
2. LEAVE YOUR HOME. I can never say this enough. You may feel like it is no big deal, but psychologically for the home buyer, they are much more likely to feel “at home” in your home if you ARE NOT there. By seeing you there, and having you around, the home buyers stop thinking of the home as where they will live, but instead, as where you live. And that makes them less likely discuss wall colors or new flooring, or even new curtains, because, again, they are thinking of it as your home and aren’t as comfortable to discuss the things they hate or would change. By letting them have the freedom to discuss items they dislike about the house, they will also be free to discuss how they could easily fix it-like wall color and curtains and how fun getting all the friends together to tear up carpet might be. Again, can’t say it enough-Go away when buyers come to see your Pittsburgh home for sale.
3. GET RID OF CLUTTER. Take out extra furniture, clear off tables, keep decorations to a minimum, and clean, clean, clean. Buyers, right now, have a lot of choices, so you want them to see the full potential of your home by showing off all the space and beauty. Piles of magazines should be put away, furniture and baseboards should be dusted.
4. CLEAN THE BATHROOMS AND KITCHEN. Kitchens and bathrooms sell a home, but don’t worry if your home has small ones. Play up the space you do have by getting everything out of the bathroom, deep cleaning, and putting out nice, new towels. In the kitchen, clear off as much counter space as possible, but your appliances you don’t use everyday away, put away papers and mail, and show off the space. New towels and a deep cleaning can do wonders to show off a space.
5. SHOW OFF STORAGE. Clean out closets, but everything that isn’t necessary away, and show off just how much space your Pittsburgh real estate for sale has. Home buyers are going to look everywhere, so make sure your closets are neat and show off space.
6. PUT PETS AWAY. The best senerio is to take your pets with you when you leave the house, but if that isn’t an option, make sure you have them secured in crates or a storage room that is locked. You don’t want a buyer-who may scared to death of dogs or cats-to accidentally let your pet out in the middle of a home tour. Not only would that perhaps cause a huge scare for the home buyer, but if your dog or cat gets aggressive with strangers in its home, you could have an animal bite issue on your hands and we certainly don’t want that to ever happen.
7. MAKE YOUR HOME SMELL LIKE HOME. If possible, I suggest baking a pumpkin or apple pie in the oven a few hours before a home tour-you can buy ready to bake pies in the freezer section, and then you home will smell like home baked goodness as Pittsburgh home buyers tour it. Don’t have time? Sprigs of lavender, or even some lavender scented spray can spread a calm and relaxing atmosphere in your home.
8. OPEN THE WINDOWS. Letting in sunlight is a huge plus in showing off space and comfort in a home. Letting in the light makes the house feel warm and airy, and can really show off the home. A dark home is never appealing, and home buyers may not realize how great a home’s views are, or just how much light a home receives, if you have all the shades drawn.
9. PLANT FLOWERS. A well taken care of yard can add tons of appeal to a home, and leaves the home buyers with a great first and last impression. If you are selling in the winter, Pansies are great, hardy choices, and summer offers a wide range of flower colors, so choose something that compliments your home color and really pops. Bright flowers create and add to a bright, well cared for feeling of a home.
10. DON”T BLOCK YOUR DRIVE WAY WITH STORAGE. Right now, the movable storage units are very popular when people are selling their homes, but I suggest actually renting a place away from your home, if at all possible. Not only are they about the same price, but the movable storage pods really take way from front yard appeal and space-especially if your whole drive way is taken up with one. It also serves as a reminder to home owners that there wasn’t space in your home for all your stuff to be neat and organized. If you have to use one, see if the company can store the movable storage for you until your home sells, most companies do for very small rental fees-and keeping your yard and drive looking neat, clean and large is well worth the rental fee.
These are only a few ideas, but if you would like even more tips, simply request my Pittsburgh Home Selling Guide. You can also contact me, Jim Dolanch, to learn even more about making your Pittsburgh home selling smooth and easy.
Until next time,
Jim
