Call Us (614) 836-2210
Email: marylee@maryleebendig.com
Our real estate team has been engaged in countless homes for sale in the Groveport and surrounding areas. Even with guidance and recommendations, you would be amazed at how often we encounter a listing where even basic preparation has been neglected. Through a little work, you can establish a measurable advantage over comparable homes, and bring in top-dollar offers in less time. So, we have put our knowledge to print and composed a checklist of (mostly) small things that can make a huge difference. Print this page if needed.
As is the case with most sellers, your home represents so many facets of your life. It’s certainly not the easiest thing to do, but you have to be able to remove “home” from the equation and start focusing on what you’re going to be selling. From this point forward, you need to concentrate on what your potential buyer is looking for. Buyers are strictly interested in the property. They focus on the size of the lot, the structure, the layout, the functional aspects, and how the house might best fit their lifestyle. Your goal is to highlight features of the property that will help a buyer to envision themselves living there.
This process is all about staging that will cater to a potential buyer’s point of view. Buyers often have a hard time seeing past personal effects, and you want to minimize the distractions. Pack up the family photographs and heirlooms and remove Buckeye memorabilia (I know it hurts). The goal is to create an environment where buyers feel like they aren’t intruding into someone else’s space. Buyers need to visualize their own furniture & photos, and how they might assign rooms to members of their family. Most buyers simply can’t get to that point if your house exhibits too much of your personal life. Go for the look & feel of a model home. You need buyers to think, “I can see myself living here.”
At this point, if there are any items that you are not planning on leaving in the house (window coverings, built-in appliances, fixtures, possibly a chandelier, etc.) please remove them now. If a buyer never sees these items, they won’t ever want them. On the other hand, if you have to tell a buyer they can’t have an item (after they’ve seen it), they’ll likely resent the situation and find another property. It’s better to avoid a conflict if at all possible.
Most people tend to collect an amazing amount of ‘stuff’ over time, and what some people may view as perfectly normal can often be viewed as unsightly clutter to others. Clutter sources, such as notes and paperwork, to toiletries and cleaning supplies, to musical instruments and sports gear, to electronics or baking equipment can all fall into this category. They can be found everywhere: tucked in a corner, a drawer, a cabinet, under a bed, up on a shelf, in a closet, out in the garage, and the ‘storage place’ list goes on and on.
Unfortunately, potential buyers have a knack for picking up on these distractions, and they can put a seriously negative spin on how a buyer relates to your house. Think about it this way: if you haven’t used it for a year, you probably don’t need it. It would be a good time to think about a garage sale, or securing a storage unit until your big move.
During a showing, buyers will spend a significant amount of time analyzing the kitchen and bathrooms. They’ll look through drawers, they’ll open the pantry, and they will explore in cabinets and under the sinks. They will also gauge the adequacy of counter space and any available closets nearby. Essentially, buyers are attempting to get a feel for how much space they’ve got to work with, and how easy it will be to store their ‘stuff’. It is with the utmost certainty that we stress these rooms (more than any others) to have the most impact on the sale of a home. At the same time, however, kitchens and bathrooms are also one of the most common places for homeowners to accumulate clutter.
Kitchens –
Bathrooms –
Furnishings –
Garage–
While this list is not inclusive, use it as a guide to cover many of the “issues” that alarm potential buyers. When encountered, buyers become concerned about what they can’t specifically see. If it seems a little much for you do yourself, here is a list of trusted contractors.
Most buyers will use a home inspector. Quite often the “problems” are somewhat trivial in nature. Experienced buyers can often sift through the unimportant items of concern, but occasionally a new buyer reads an inspection report, and their anxiety simply overcomes them. It’s always best to address as many repair items as possible up front. Most are easy but, if you need help, we have provided a list of some of our trusted contractors and handymen that service Groveport and surrounding.
Interior Repairs –
The following section is THE MOST IMPORTANT to address. “Curb appeal” is a make or break issue for most buyers. If buyers don’t like the exterior, they won’t even get out of their car to go inside!
Exterior Repairs –
Ask family members, friends and neighbors to role-play as a buyer, and walk the property with you. Remain open to advice that’s shared with you, and don’t get discouraged or dismiss any of the opinions that are offered.
In order to get that perfect offer, it requires careful planning and a keen understanding of how to present your home so that it will have buyers scrambling to sign a contract. If you apply the home seller tips contained in this section, you will have a significant advantage over the majority of the home market.
I will guide you. Let’s get started.