Selling a house can be a stressful experience, especially if it has been on the market for a while without any offers. However, there are ways for homeowners to help their agents speed up the process. From the very beginning, you need to take matters into your own hands to get that house off the market and the sale proceeds into your pocket. Most of the strategies for selling your house are fairly basic; they are things you should do regularly anyway.
When People Will Be Looking at Your House
There are several ways in which potential buyers will evaluate your home to see if it’s the right fit for them. These different types of viewings are not mutually exclusive; in fact, buyers will likely approach your house using a combination of the following strategies:
- Street Viewing. A “For Sale” sign on your lawn communicates that your house is on the market. This is often the first thing potential buyers will see, after which their attention will be drawn to the exterior of your home.
- Open Houses. Although open houses have never been the most effective strategy for selling, they remain popular. The homeowner sets aside a day (usually on the weekend) for interested parties to tour the house on their own, often with the owner present. A disadvantage here is that, even if you clean your house thoroughly beforehand, it can quickly become messy with people walking through. Additionally, a successful open house can draw attention to a crowded entryway!
- Viewings by Appointment. These are the most common ways for potential buyers to evaluate a house. Appointments are scheduled between the buyer’s agent and the seller’s agent, giving the owner time to clean up (if they still live in the house) or to touch up the property (if they do not).
- Virtual Tours. A new trend in real estate is the virtual tour. These are quickly phasing out the open house. Potential buyers can view your house from the comfort of their own homes, allowing an unlimited number of people to look at it without physically visiting.
Preparing for Street Viewing
As soon as you put up that “For Sale” sign, start paying close attention to the exterior of your house. If it’s summertime, ensure all your flower beds are weeded and the grass is cut to a nice length. Don’t leave anything out in the yard that can be moved (tools, toys, equipment). In the fall, rake up leaves regularly, and in the winter, shovel after every snowfall.
Check the paint on your house; if it’s peeling, apply a fresh coat. Since you’re already doing other work, now is a good time to clean the outside of the windows as well. Any trees or shrubbery should be pruned. Remember, this could make the difference between a serious buyer scheduling a viewing or passing by!
Preparing for an Open House
The advantage of an open house is that you have plenty of advance notice, allowing for a thorough cleaning of your home. Don’t leave anything out—dust, vacuum, mop, and scrub every room.
Before showing the home, consider holding a yard sale. This will help you prepare for the move and ensure your house is uncluttered in front of potential buyers.
Make sure there are no repair or maintenance issues with the interior of your house. The furnace and hot water heater should be in good working order; if they are older models, consider upgrading. Agents know to look for quality heating equipment!
Preparing for a Viewing
Viewings will require much of the same preparation as open houses, but you won’t have as much notice. It’s best to keep your house in the tidiest condition possible throughout the sale period to avoid a massive cleanup each week. If you plan to have an open house, it’s wise to schedule it soon after the house hits the market, ensuring that the deep cleaning is completed.
Before each viewing, check your house carefully. Make sure you and anyone else living there can be out during the scheduled time; this allows potential buyers to talk openly with the agent and prevents any potential leaks about disadvantages to the home. If possible, try to get your pets out as well.
Preparing a Virtual Tour
Virtual tours are a fantastic way to showcase your house. They eliminate the need for an open house, as people can view the rooms from their own computers or those of an agency. There are both video and pictorial tours; if you can get the video ones, go for it.
While virtual tours still require you to clean your house, you won’t have to do it as often as with an open house, and the risk of theft is somewhat reduced. However, virtual tours will never replace in-person showings; potential buyers will always want to see the house firsthand. You may need to shoot the footage yourself, depending on your realtor’s equipment. Be as thorough as possible, and include some narration about the house (but avoid personal details!).
Getting your house ready to be seen by potential viewers is one of the most important tasks you have as a seller. The way people perceive the house—and consequently the price they are willing to pay—will depend partly on its condition and cleanliness. A spotless house may not guarantee an immediate sale, but it is certainly a step in the right direction.
