How to get your Home Sold

 After many years of successfully selling my homes and increasingly helping my family and friends sell theirs I thought it was time to share my approach with a wider circle of "new" friends. I'm going to tell you things you may not have heard before and I'll tell you why some of the things Estate Agents (Realtors) tell you don't work.

This is not about how to choose an agent (Realtor) which I'll cover in later episodes, it's about making sure your home sells at or near the price you want (subject to your negotiations). 

So first things first; as soon as you put your home on the "market" it's no longer yours. This is an important mindshift that must be firm and resolute. You no longer own it, although you live there; you're just looking after it until the new owners move in.

Now my assumptions that you should remember while you read this;

1. Your home is structurally sound and will not fail a surveyors tests.

2. Your home is in a reasonable state of repair (i.e the fences are intact, the garage door works, the garden is not overgrown and unkempt).

3. You really do want to sell and are legally able to do so. 

Most Estate Agents (Realtors) who are any good will give you tips to help get your home sold, after all it's in their interest to do so because nearly all work on no sale no commission. However yours is not the only home they are selling and they may have many on their books similar to yours. And the bigger they are the more those "tips" will be stereotypical and over 20 years old; like if you have a coffee percolator make sure it's on when your home is visited by prospects. Actually don't do that, you'll see why later. The real situation is you are in a competition and the winner get's their home sold.

Right now I hope you are thinking a little differently already so let's get on;

First impressions count! Make sure the outside of your home is attractive, the windows are always clean, the grass is cut, hedges are trimmed and the paintwork is clean and looks fresh (don't repaint - use decorators sugar soap on all outside paintwork) the week before it goes on the market. Don't leave blinds down or curtains closed during the day (even if you normally do). Don't go and plant new flowers everywhere and don't have the windows open and loud music audible from outside.

Why these things? Not everyone who is interested in your home will contact the Agent (realtor) first. Many will have seen the promotion work that's been done (internet, newspapers and direct mailing) and some will just have seen the "For Sale" sign as they walk or drive past. These people will have a look around the outside first and then look around the area. There's not much you can do about the area (except if you see litter blowing in the street pick it up) but you can influence the first impression. Remember it's not your home anymore, you're just looking after it!

Now to the inside. You don't need to repaint your entire home to make it sell, but it's worth repainting any gloss white that you have (skirting boards, window sills etc). Make sure your home is kept safe during this period, potential owners are not the only ones who will have seen the advertising campaign. And on that note do not allow anybody into your home to look around without your agent - ever!

Make sure you keep dust levels down while your home is on the market. Do this by getting tack mats from good retailers and vacuuming the whole house everyday (even if there's only you as a resident and you're out all day). Dust is responsible for most retained smells in your home and the smell should be neutral, which means don't suddenly fill your place up with air fresheners because people will think you're covering up something - like bad drains or musty smells. Use simple plug in airfresheners on low setting that have a soft fresh smell. Avoid heavy floral smells. This is also why the old favourite "tip" of having the coffee percolator on when potential new owners come is wrong. If they don't like coffee or even the brand of coffee you have it sets a subconcious step for them.

During the Visit

Keep the toilets and bathrooms clean but don't use bleach in the toilets during the day and similarly don't put bleach in your kitchen sink. Make sure that you have a clean set of towels freshly washed and aired to put in the bathroom and any toilet rooms you have prior to a "visit." The fluffier the better and make sure they match your decor. The resonance you are building here is of a quality hotel in your "service rooms."

Don't have inside lights on, unless it really is dark. Most people will recognise some artificiality in this and either knowingly or unknowingly they will set another unconcious step.

Don't cook for 2 hours before and especially not heavily pungent food.

If you have a dog(s) and they are well behaved keep them shut out of the way. If your dog(s) is excitable with visitors (however briefly this is)  they should not be in the house.

If you have children and they have toys that would normally be around, leave them around. You're selling a home not a house and the people who buy it may have children (or want them).

1. As soon as your home is on the market, it's no longer your home. You're just looking after it for the next owner.
2. First impressions count so make sure the outside is always tidy and well kept.
3. Inside, avoid heavy smells and artificial floral; aroma's.
4. Remember it's a home you're selling and not a house!

Happy selling!