There’s a lot more to selling a home than looking at a price tag and figuring out mortgages. A potential buyer should be drawn in from the moment they step out of their car, and should easily be able to visualize themselves living in the house. As a seller, your job is to make the house as presentable as possible, with as few distractions as you can manage, so that buyers can see the house for what it is, and decide for themselves if it’s the right place for them.
Curb Appeal. First impressions are so important. Curb appeal deals directly with the first impression your house makes on a potential buyer, as they stand on the curb and look. Basic lawn care is a must, a touch of landscaping can go a long way, and never underestimate the power of a fresh coat of paint. Curb appeal is all about getting people to walk through the front door. Spending a little bit of money on a home facelift is never a bad idea.
Inspections. Potential buyers want honesty, even if the news isn’t that good. If there’s work that needs to be done on the house and you can’t get to it before the sale goes down, don’t try to hide it. Be upfront about it, so buyers know how much of their mortgage financing will go towards fixing this or that.
Staging. Many realtors will “stage” a house in order to give potential buyers an contextual idea of what the house will look like when it’s furnished. They’ll bring in generic furniture, paint the walls neutral colors, and minimally decorate each room. You can do a bit of this with your own house as well. Make sure everything is clean and uncluttered. If any of your rooms are painted in somewhat intense colors, consider painting over them.
Homes for sale — indeed, all real estate for sale — need to be presentable. Take a step back from your space and try to see it as a potential buyer would see it. What are its strongest qualities? What are its weaknesses? What catches the eye first? What is the overall impression? If you can’t be objective, have a friend visit and give your their opinion. Or even ask your mailman. Anything to help you make your home more presentable, which will help it sell faster. See this reference for more.