What To Do To Prep Your Home For Sale, Even If It Can Sell In A Day

Hey Louisville! Do you want to get the very most money for your home in this hot seller’s market?

Most people don’t realize there is much more to selling a home than taking a few photos, writing a catchy description, and putting it on the MLS — especially if you want to get the most money possible when you sell it.

This is why I created my series, “How To Get The Very Most For Your Home, Even In A Hot Seller’s Market.” I want to help you (and anyone you know) maximize the profits from your biggest investment and not get caught up in what other people are doing.

Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing my four-step process to getting the most money possible when selling your home, even when a home can sell itself right now.

This is a must-read series, even if you aren’t selling a home anytime soon.

This is Week Two in the series. In this article, you’ll learn what to do to prep your home for sale, even if you think it can sell in a day:

A hot seller’s market, means it’s a great time to sell, right? But here’s the problem….as I scroll through the MLS looking at homes for my buyer clients, I’m seeing a remarkable difference between houses that sell for top dollar and houses that don’t.

It’s heartbreaking to see sellers leaving money on the table and not selling their homes for the most money possible in this record-breaking seller’s market.  

I think some sellers are doing this because they feel like they could put a sign in their yard and get their home sold.  

Sure a home can sell that way, but by doing a few of the things before selling it, you could get TENS of thousands of dollars or more without much added time, effort or money.

Here’s a secret—right now, buyers are willing to pay even MORE for homes than ever before.  But not if the home doesn’t look its best online or in person. 

Here’s how to get the most for your home, even if you don’t want to spend a lot of time or money getting it ready to put on the market:

1.  Grab Their Attention.

99% of buyers are looking for their next home online. The good news is we know WHERE to get buyers’ attention, the bad news is we only have three seconds to do it before they scroll on to the next house. 

In those three seconds, your home must stop as many buyers as possible in their tracks.  Your home must jump off the screen and make them want to drop everything and come see it.   How your home looks online needs to make them daydream about the life they will live in your home BEFORE they ever go inside.  

The better your home looks online = the more people who will be interested in it.  The more people who are interested, the more people will come see it.  The more people that see it, the more offers you’ll get.  The more offers you get, the higher the price you’ll receive. 

So, how do we make this happen?

2.  You can’t SELL your home the same way you LIVE in your home.

Even with me being a real estate agent, the way we live in our home is pretty different then how it would look if we were selling it.

Why?  Because when we’re selling, our home becomes a product.  A product that we’d want to sell for the most money possible.

It is our biggest investment, after all, so why wouldn’t we want to position it in the best light possible to get the very most possible out of it when it’s time to sell? 

Anything less is just leaving money on the table. 

3.  It doesn’t take a lot of time and money to get your home ready to sell for the most money possible. 

I’ve heard it said that “little hinges swing big doors.” It’s true for all sorts of things when it comes to real estate, but especially when it comes to prepping your home to sell. 

Here are a few examples of my recommendations to get a home prepped to sell for the most money possible without investing much time or money upfront:

• The 50% Rule — remove 50% of what’s in your closets, on your bookshelves and on your kitchen counters.  You are moving somewhere, so start packing!  Editing down 50% of your “stuff” gives buyers the ability to picture themselves in your home without having to envision their new life from scratch.
• Bright white — replace your towels and maybe even your bedspreads with brand new bright white options.  You’ll be amazed by how this little tweak changes the overall look of bedrooms and bathrooms. 
• Make them GREEN with envy — freshen up or purchase real plants (and even a few fake ones) to make your home feel “alive.”
• Consider your curb appeal – make sure your yard is mowed and your hedges are trimmed. Would a few plants or a freshly painted doorway help stop buyers in their tracks? It doesn’t take a lot, but what’s outside is the first impression buyers will have of your home. Make it a good one.

These are just a few of my tips and quick ways to get a home to sell for the most money possible. I can help with all these things (and more), and I even have a list of vetted professionals you can hire if you have even a small budget to take care of these things before you list your home.

Just because you can throw a home on the MLS and get it sold, doesn’t mean you should.  When I bring buyers to homes that haven’t been properly prepped, the result is that they aren’t emotionally invested in the home.  They either don’t bother writing an offer or they write one that’s not their best, which means less money for the seller.  Sure, the house still might sell, but not for as much as it could. 

If you or anyone you know is thinking about selling a home soon, don’t make this big mistake—don’t skimp on making it look it’s best.  And, don’t feel overwhelmed with the idea that you have to spend a lot of time or money making it look great either.  You most likely don’t have to. 

I’d love to help by looking at your home, creating a plan, and making it happen with as little stress for you as possible.  Let’s set up a time so I can have a look and we’ll go from there.