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Want to Sell Your Home? Fix it Up, and Be Flexible!

Fix It Up!

This may seem obvious, but the best way to make your home more attractive to buyers is to clean it up and fix it up. You know that spring-cleaning that most of us do maybe once or twice a year? You should keep your home "spring clean" throughout your search for a buyer. Mop and wax the floors. Keep the windows, walls and baseboards squeaky clean. Dust regularly. Clean out the garage, the stove, refrigerator and all showers. You never know where someone will want to snoop around. Also, ask a friend or neighbor about any smells in the home. You may be used to a certain odor that new visitors notice.

Any home that has been lived in for a good period of time will have minor dings that most of us learn to live with. FIX THESE PROBLEMS. Nicks and marks in doorways and walls, doors that stick or faucets that leak may not seem like a big deal to you, but could give the impression that your home has not been well maintained.

Finally, use a few "tricks" to make your home more attractive. Using higher wattage light bulbs will make rooms brighter. Getting rid of most of the small decorative items in the home will make rooms feel cleaner, less cluttered, and more livable. Clearing closets of extra clothes and other items will make them seem bigger.

Be Flexible!

There's a reason that most homes in Charleston, SC and around the country are on the market for 60 days or more before they're sold. It's just not that easy to find buyers in a hurry to make a purchase and willing to pay the premium that most sellers request for their home.

First of all, price your home correctly. Know the value of your home and other real estate in the area. Then, make sure to be ready for offers. Decide what price and terms you'll be willing to accept. Don't refuse to drop your asking price, especially if you haven't received an offer within the first 30 days. Finally, always have the home ready for a showing. It can be annoying to do so at the spur of the moment, but you never know which one is going to be "the one."