6 Selling Secrets Every Homeowner Should Know

If you’re getting ready to put your house on the market, then you’ll want to know these home selling secrets straight from the real estate experts at HGTV. Selling your home can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right support, a skilled real estate agent, and a few insider tips from those who know the market and the home selling process best, you’ll be on your way to a smooth and successful home sale. Here’s what you need to know!

Minimize your stuff

A cluttered home is a total distraction when it comes to showcasing your home and one of the biggest deterrents to potential buyers. Too much stuff takes away from the visual appeal of your home and lessens a home buyer’s interest in what your home has to offer. Potential buyers will be too inundated with all of the things to really see the essence of your house and its highlights. Do yourself a big a favor and start decluttering before you ever put your house on the market.

Light it up

Maximize the light in your home. After location, good light is the one thing that every buyer cites that they want in a home. Take down the drapes, clean the windows, change the lampshades, increase the wattage of your light bulbs and cut the bushes outside to let in the sunshine. Do what you have to do to make your house bright and cheery, thereby making it much more marketable and sellable.

Don’t over-upgrade

Quick fixes before selling always pay off. Mammoth makeovers, not so much. You probably won’t get your money back if you do a huge improvement project before you put your house on the market. Instead, do updates that will pay off and get you top dollar. Get a new fresh coat of paint on the walls. Clean the curtains or go buy some inexpensive new ones. Replace door handles, cabinet hardware, make sure closet doors are on track, fix leaky faucets and clean the grout.

Sell your house not your home

One of the most important things to do when selling your house is to de-personalize it. The more personal stuff in your house, the less potential buyers can imagine themselves living there. Get rid of a third of your stuff and put it in storage. This includes family photos, memorabilia collections and personal keepsakes. Consider hiring a home stager to maximize the full potential of your home. Staging simply means arranging your furniture to best showcase the floor plan and maximize the use of space.

Stay show ready

Your house needs to be show-ready at all times, since you never know when your buyer is going to walk through the door. You have to be available whenever they want to come see the place and it has to be in tip-top shape. Don’t leave dishes in the sink, keep the dishwasher cleaned out, the bathrooms sparkling and make sure there are no dust bunnies in the corners. It’s a little inconvenient at the moment, but it will get your house sold.

The first impression is the only impression.

No matter how good the interior of your home looks, buyers have already judged your home before they walk through the door. You never have a second chance to make a first impression. It’s important to make people feel warm, welcome and safe as they approach the house. Spruce up your home’s exterior with inexpensive shrubs and brightly colored flowers. You can typically get a 100-percent return on the money you put into your home’s curb appeal. Entryways are also important. You use it as a utility space for your coat and keys. But when you’re selling, make it welcoming by putting in a small bench, a vase of fresh-cut flowers or even some cookies. The little details matter.