Home Selling Tips Every Seller Should Know
Price Your Home Realistically From the Start
94.3 percent of agents say this is a very important tip
0.0 percent of agents don’t recommend this tip
The largest number of showings will occur in the first couple of weeks, so don’t turn these potential buyers off with an unrealistically high price!
Keep Your House Clean, Tidy and De-cluttered
91.4 percent of agents say this is a very important tip
0.4 percent of agents don’t recommend this tip
It pays to keep your home in excellent shape at all times. You never know when a buyer might walk through the front door!
Work With an Agent Who Excels at Online Marketing
90.7 percent of agents say this is a very important tip
0.6 percent of agents don’t recommend this tip
Work with an agent who will do a good job marketing your home online. Your agent should take at least 6 listing photos and write a compelling listing description for your home.
Make It Easy to Show Your Home
90.3 percent of agents say this is a very important tip
0.4 percent of agents don’t recommend this tip
Make it as easy as possible for agents to show your home to clients. Don’t require appointments to be made weeks in advance or severely limit possible showing times.
Don’t Sign With an Unqualified Buyer
87.8 percent of agents say this is a very important tip
0.6 percent of agents don’t recommend this tip
Don’t sign a purchase agreement with an unqualified buyer. It’s not unreasonable to expect buyers to bring pre-approval letters (or proof of funds for cash purchases) to show they can buy your home.
Listen to Your Agent!
83.9 percent of agents say this is a very important tip
0.8 percent of agents don’t recommend this tip
Listen to your real estate agent! Find an agent you can trust and follow their advice and recommendations as closely as you can.
Make Small Upgrades to Your Home
83.6 percent of agents say this is a very important tip
0.2 percent of agents don’t recommend this tip
Make small upgrades to help your home sell for top dollar. These upgrades can include applying a fresh coat of paint, replacing door handles, curtains and cabinet hardware, fixing leaky faucets and cleaning the grout.
Work With an Agent Who Follows the Competition
82.4 percent of agents say this is a very important tip
1.4 percent of agents don’t recommend this tip
Work with an agent that will closely follow your competition. Your agent must be familiar with other properties on the market and know the comps in your neighborhood.
Stage Your Home’s Exterior
76.0 percent of agents say this is a very important tip
0.0 percent of agents don’t recommend this tip
Stage the exterior of your home: Spruce up the landscaping, trim vegetation, clean walkways of debris and apply fresh coats of paint to the house, fence and deck.
Don’t Insist on the Asking Price
72.0 percent of agents say this is a very important tip
3.0 percent of agents don’t recommend this tip
Don’t insist on selling your house for your asking price, its appraised value, the tax assessor’s estimate, or what you paid for it – your house is ultimately worth what the buyer is willing to pay for it!
Alert Family and Friends
67.7 percent of agents say this is a very important tip
0.6 percent of agents don’t recommend this tip
Alert your friends, relatives and neighbors that your home is on the market via email and social media. They may forward your home’s listing to buyers they know.
Make Your Home Move-In Ready
66.6 percent of agents say this is a very important tip
0.9 percent of agents don’t recommend this tip
Make your home move-in ready before it hits the market, so buyers know they won’t have a to-do list if they buy it.
Brighten Up Your Home
64.8 percent of agents say this is a very important tip
1.0 percent of agents don’t recommend this tip
Maximize the amount of light in your home. Take down drapes, clean windows and cut bushes to let sunshine in.
Clear Out Your Closets
63.1 percent of agents say this is a very important tip
1.0 percent of agents don’t recommend this tip
Because storage space is an important consideration for buyers, take half of the stuff out of your closets and neatly organize the rest.
Don’t Take the First Offer
59.4 percent of agents say this is a very important tip
3.4 percent of agents don’t recommend this tip
Don’t get over-excited when you get an offer! Examine each offer carefully and take your time deciding if you want to accept it.
De-Personalize Your Home
57.9 percent of agents say this is a very important tip
2.6 percent of agents don’t recommend this tip
Personal items make it harder for buyers to imagine themselves living in your home. Put family photos, trophies, memorabilia and other personal keepsakes in storage.
Don’t Over-Upgrade
56.6 percent of agents say this is a very important tip
1.7 percent of agents don’t recommend this tip
You probably won’t get your money back if you do a huge improvement project just before you put your house on the market.
Conceal Your Pets
52.8 percent of agents say this is a very important tip
5.5 percent of agents don’t recommend this tip
Pets give the impression your house isn’t clean, so hide them, their litter boxes, food dishes and toys during showings.
Don’t Work With the First Agent You Find
51.8 percent of agents say this is a very important tip
5.9 percent of agents don’t recommend this tip
Interview multiple agents before choosing one to work with. Select your agent based on their marketing plan, experience, work ethic and communication skills.
Hire a Professional Listing Photographer
37.1 percent of agents say this is a very important tip
16.4 percent of agents don’t recommend this tip
Hire a professional photographer to take pictures of your home if your agent doesn’t do so. Professional listing photos only cost $100-300 and can increase your home’s sale price by up to $19,000.
Throw Buyers a Bone to Close Escrow Quickly
29.5 percent of agents say this is a very important tip
10.8 percent of agents don’t recommend this tip
If you want a speedy and hassle-free escrow, throw your buyer a bone (like an early closing or a one-year home warranty) if they ask for one. You want to be in their good graces during escrow and after the sale.
Offer Up Extras to the Buyers
17.0 percent of agents say this is a very important tip
14.7 percent of agents don’t recommend this tip
Offer to leave behind items as extras, like high-end appliances and electronics, or if you live on a golf course, your golf cart.
The Iron Eagle Realty Team's mission is to assist you, our client, in the sale and acquisition of real estate properties in the state of Idaho, specifically the Boise Idaho Real Estate Market. Whether you are buying or selling a home, whether it is a foreclosure, short sale or equity property, we handle our customers and clients with empathy and honest truths so they can make informed decisions as they advance in the process of buying and selling real estate that meet specific needs.
