7 Tips for Selling Your Home

Selling your house? You’ll want to do more than put a for-sale sign on the lawn. With a little preparation, you can increase the odds of selling your home for top dollar. Here are seven home-seller tips that will help you get your house off the market quickly without sacrificing profit.

1. Work With a Trusted Real Estate Agent

Even in a seller’s market, a skilled agent can help you sell your home more quickly and, in many cases, for more money. In fact, data from the National Association of Realtors shows that in 2022, homes listed without a realtor sold for a median price of $225,000, while those sold with one fetched a significantly higher median of $345,000. Look for an agent who specializes in your local market and type of property, whether it’s a historic home, a high-rise condo or a rural estate. 

1. Think Like a Buyer

You might love certain aspects of your home, like your bright yellow walls or vintage backsplash. However, where you see character, potential buyers might see home improvement projects.

Painting your home in a neutral color palette, de-cluttering and removing photos and other personal items could help you sell your home for more. One Zillow report found that homes with bathrooms painted light shades of blue sold for an average of $5,440 more. Staging your home is also an important real estate tip: 81% of real estate agents said home staging helped buyers visualize the home as their own.

1. Scrub Until It Shines

Dog hair and dust bunnies won’t win buyers. Get your home ready to sell by giving it a deep cleaning that includes appliances, windows and carpets. If you really want to get your house sale-ready, use a cleaning service. Professionals will help remove odors, like those from pets or cigarettes that could make prospective buyers think twice about making an offer.

1.  Don’t Ignore Repairs

Buyers will be turned off if the front door sticks, the stairs squeak or the bathroom faucet drips. A long list of repair items could slow the selling process. Plus, repairs that are revealed during a home inspection could lead to requests for a price reduction or credit. If the inspection reveals major repairs, buyers may cancel their contingent contracts altogether.

As you’re getting ready to sell your home, do a walkthrough (both inside and out) with your real estate agent. Make a list of each repair and maintenance issue that needs to be addressed before you sell your home.

1. Tackle Home Upgrades That Add Value

Making renovations before selling your home could help boost the asking price and lead to a faster sale. But before calling in contractors, remember that some renovations provide better returns than others. Some upgrades that provide the best return on investment include replacing garage doors and undertaking minor kitchen remodels. The ROI on a new garage door is 93%, while a minor kitchen refresh will recoup about 72% of the initial cost, according to data from Remodeling. 

Homeowners are least likely to recover the cost of revamping a primary suite, bathroom or backyard patio. Another tip for selling your home is to add words like “remodeled,” “renovated” or “upgraded” to your listing, which could help capture buyers’ attention. 

Before writing a check to a contractor, research the potential impact of the upgrades on the selling price and speak with your realtor. Make smart choices about how to allocate your budget to ensure you’ll benefit once you start fielding offers.

1. Invest in Professional Photography

Listing photos are your home’s first impression for most potential buyers, so it’s essential to have photos that show your home in its best light. Professional real estate photographers know how to capture awkward angles and dark rooms in a way that brings them to life while still accurately representing the space. If you do opt to take your own photos, one key home seller tip is to avoid using any filters or editing tools — the fisheye lens effect is a dead giveaway that a seller is trying to make the space look larger.

1. Set a Realistic Listing Price

When a home is priced right, it will attract more buyers. How do you determine the right sale price? That’s where the knowledge of an agent can come in. A knowledgeable agent will know how much your house is worth and how much you can reasonably expect to get for it based on neighboring comps and market trends. If the price is right and enough buyers are enticed, a bidding war could ensue, garnering multiple offers that are even higher than the listing price. Price it too high, though, and you might scare potential buyers off.

Protect Your Home

Ensure you have the right coverage in place to protect your new home, vehicles and those who matter most. Contact your local Farm Bureau agent for help ensuring you’re covered for life’s unexpected moments.