While having an experienced North Shore Real Estate agent will make a large difference in the effectiveness of getting your home sold; there are also a few things that you can do to help the process! Getting your home ready to sell before putting your home on the market will result in greater interest and activity right from the start! Here are 10 tips that you’ll want to review and implement that will help sell your North Shore home.
1. Price it correctly- The single biggest thing you can do is to price your home correctly. Correct pricing is the number one thing that you can do, because if the price is not within reason of the other properties on the market then all the other items presented below are useless. You can spend all the money in the world on making your house look beautiful but if the price is not what the current buyers will pay then you are throwing money out the window.
2. Improve your landscaping- Curb appeal is crucial to a good first impression, so make sure your Chicago North Shore home’s lawn is immaculate. Selling your home in the summer is ideal as the warmer weather allows you to show off the highlights of your landscaping. Make sure to stay on top of mowing the lawn, pruning the bushes, weeding the garden and planting flowers. Allow your landscaping to enhance the “wow” factor of your home!
3. Make repairs- In a buyer’s market you want your home to be in the best condition possible. North Shore buyers are very savvy and know what to expect in a home. Take care of major defects like broken windows or a leaky roof as well as smaller repairs such as a loose hinges on a cabinet or a missing brick from your walkway. Knowing there are things that will need to be fixed when they move in can greatly discourage buyers. An unkept exterior will make buyers think you've slacked off on interior maintenance as well. Be sure to clean the gutters and pressure wash your home's siding. If you know of issues that may come up in a home inspection fix them prior to putting your home on the market it will save you time and money to address the issues now.
4. Make the front door inviting- A fresh coat of paint, especially in a color that contrasts with the home, will make the front door stand out. Replace faded house numbers so buyers can see them from the curb. For every 1 dollar you spend preparing your home to sell you should receive 3 dollars back. One of the single greatest return on investments we see for our clients is paint. If you spend $3000 on interior paint (depending on what you have to work with) you should get $9000 more back in the selling price (on average).
5. Buy a new welcome mat- Let buyers know they're invited into your home. This is a seemingly small thing to do, but an old, dirty welcome mat will make buyers wonder what else you’ve overlooked in your home. A fresh mat will show buyers that you pay attention to the smallest details in every aspect of your Chicago North Shore home.
6. Remove clutter and depersonalize- Buyers want to envision their belongings in your home. By removing personal photos and items; buyers will be less distracted. If your storage space is limited, perhaps renting a storage unit while your home is on the market is a smart choice. Extra furniture will only make your home appear smaller and more cluttered. Take the magnets off your refrigerator and organize books, make things look tidy, remember “less is better.”
7. Organize closets and drawers- Messy closets give the appearance that your home doesn't have enough storage space. Having built-in organizers in closets, and even the kitchen pantry, will give the impression that keeping things organized will be a breeze. Keep shoes off the floor in the closets when you do so the closets give the impression that they are larger.
8. Make every surface shine- From ceiling fans to floors and everything in between; clean your home until it shines. We recommend spending money on a professional cleaner, the return on investment for a clean looking and clean smelling house is priceless. This is another investment that clients make and the return is tremendous.
9. Take color down a notch- You might like your lime-green bedroom, but it may turn off buyers. Paint your walls a neutral color that will appeal to a wide range of buyers. Consult your local paint store for more details but it must be kept clean and simple. When you paint, the house feels fresh and new and buyers want to do as little as possible if it is the right house.
10. Scrutinize- Go outside and open your front door. Stand there. Do you want to go inside? Does the house welcome you? Take a few minutes to do the following: Linger in the doorway of every single room and imagine how your house will look to a buyer. Examine carefully how furniture is arranged and move pieces around until it makes sense. Make sure window coverings hang level. Tune in to the room's statement and its emotional pull. Does it have impact and is it aesthetically pleasing? Be the “buyer” of your own home.
2. Improve your landscaping- Curb appeal is crucial to a good first impression, so make sure your Chicago North Shore home’s lawn is immaculate. Selling your home in the summer is ideal as the warmer weather allows you to show off the highlights of your landscaping. Make sure to stay on top of mowing the lawn, pruning the bushes, weeding the garden and planting flowers. Allow your landscaping to enhance the “wow” factor of your home!
3. Make repairs- In a buyer’s market you want your home to be in the best condition possible. North Shore buyers are very savvy and know what to expect in a home. Take care of major defects like broken windows or a leaky roof as well as smaller repairs such as a loose hinges on a cabinet or a missing brick from your walkway. Knowing there are things that will need to be fixed when they move in can greatly discourage buyers. An unkept exterior will make buyers think you've slacked off on interior maintenance as well. Be sure to clean the gutters and pressure wash your home's siding. If you know of issues that may come up in a home inspection fix them prior to putting your home on the market it will save you time and money to address the issues now.
4. Make the front door inviting- A fresh coat of paint, especially in a color that contrasts with the home, will make the front door stand out. Replace faded house numbers so buyers can see them from the curb. For every 1 dollar you spend preparing your home to sell you should receive 3 dollars back. One of the single greatest return on investments we see for our clients is paint. If you spend $3000 on interior paint (depending on what you have to work with) you should get $9000 more back in the selling price (on average).
5. Buy a new welcome mat- Let buyers know they're invited into your home. This is a seemingly small thing to do, but an old, dirty welcome mat will make buyers wonder what else you’ve overlooked in your home. A fresh mat will show buyers that you pay attention to the smallest details in every aspect of your Chicago North Shore home.
6. Remove clutter and depersonalize- Buyers want to envision their belongings in your home. By removing personal photos and items; buyers will be less distracted. If your storage space is limited, perhaps renting a storage unit while your home is on the market is a smart choice. Extra furniture will only make your home appear smaller and more cluttered. Take the magnets off your refrigerator and organize books, make things look tidy, remember “less is better.”
7. Organize closets and drawers- Messy closets give the appearance that your home doesn't have enough storage space. Having built-in organizers in closets, and even the kitchen pantry, will give the impression that keeping things organized will be a breeze. Keep shoes off the floor in the closets when you do so the closets give the impression that they are larger.
8. Make every surface shine- From ceiling fans to floors and everything in between; clean your home until it shines. We recommend spending money on a professional cleaner, the return on investment for a clean looking and clean smelling house is priceless. This is another investment that clients make and the return is tremendous.
9. Take color down a notch- You might like your lime-green bedroom, but it may turn off buyers. Paint your walls a neutral color that will appeal to a wide range of buyers. Consult your local paint store for more details but it must be kept clean and simple. When you paint, the house feels fresh and new and buyers want to do as little as possible if it is the right house.
10. Scrutinize- Go outside and open your front door. Stand there. Do you want to go inside? Does the house welcome you? Take a few minutes to do the following: Linger in the doorway of every single room and imagine how your house will look to a buyer. Examine carefully how furniture is arranged and move pieces around until it makes sense. Make sure window coverings hang level. Tune in to the room's statement and its emotional pull. Does it have impact and is it aesthetically pleasing? Be the “buyer” of your own home.
We hope you are encouraged that there are some valuable steps you can take that will help boost the appeal of your North Shore home! Of course, if you have any questions about selling your North Shore home or are ready to begin the process; please let us know! Our team of experience North Shore Real Estate agents will help you each step of the way and ensure a smooth and efficient home sale!
Feel free to contact us today!
The Thomas Team
@ Properties
@ Properties
Chicago's #1 Real Estate Brokerage
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