What Can I Do to Make My House Sell Quickly?

When I go on a listing presentation, a question that many – if not all – of the potential sellers ask me is “what can I do to make my home sell quickly?” It can be a difficult question to answer because people’s homes are just about as personal as it gets and suggesting changes such as emptying out personal items, doing a better job cleaning, painting, staging, or even remodeling might feel insulting to the homeowner. However, those are the types of details that can make or break a sale. Honestly, if you go into a house and the furniture looks old and dated, then even the freshest house will also feel a little bit tired. I also cannot tell you how many times I have shown a distinctively-painted home to a buyer only to leave the property and have that buyer say “wow, that was a lot of lime green!” On the other hand, if the house has a stunning kitchen or newly renovated bathrooms, then those are often the first comments that I hear – which is why I might suggest that a seller do some remodeling prior to listing their homes.

To some, the thought of doing any type of renovation work prior to listing their houses makes no sense. Why would they want to deal with construction or, frankly, to pay for the new owner’s house updates. Well, according to the Forbes Real Estate Council on forbes.com, “Homes that are freshly remodeled and updated are going to sell much faster than houses that are outdated or in need of repairs.” They also typically sell for a higher price. Renovation does not have to be a full gut job, either. Small items like new knobs, painted cabinets, upgraded light fixtures, a new backsplash, or a new counter can have a major impact in a kitchen or bathroom, both of which are hugely important to buyers. Redfin.com warns correctly, though, that if you think that putting a new countertop on a bank of broken cabinets, then buyers will see through that pretty quickly. Check out their short list of what not to do when renovating by clicking here.

On the other hand, if a house needs to be completely updated, then I say that that is a job for the homebuyer. If they are purchasing a home from an estate and it has dated finishes, then they are looking for a project. They will buy the house for a lower price than its fully-renovated counterpart and they will spend the money on remodeling to make the house just so, and perfect for them.

I would say that if you think that your home could stand some sprucing up prior to listing it on the MLS, then you are probably right. The fresher the house, the faster it will sell!