Sellers that start with a

strategy make more money.

The first step towards selling for top dollar is having a solid strategy to Value-up your home.

Not sure if you're ready to sell yet? Our Free Home Valuation is a great place to start!

SEGINSIDER

Our Top 10 Tips for Selling Above Market

Image

1. Don't Get Personal

It's time to move out emotionally and physically. Survey each room, record the memories, then pack away the sentimentality; it clouds judgment. Remove from view, or store, as many personal items as possible: family photos, bric-a-brac, diplomas, medicine, or anything you won't use in the next few months. Buyers want their new house, not your old one.

Image

2. Declutter and Update

You're selling your space, not your stuff. Clutter and dated electronics and furniture make your house seem old and stuffy. Take out bulky furniture, old electronics, clear off desks, tabletops, shelves. Keep rooms (especially bedrooms) decluttered and minimal.

Image

3. Paint a fresh perspective

A coat of paint goes a long way. That golden yellow that was popular 10 years ago? Not anymore. Adopt today's trends to attract today's buyers. Whites, neutral pale grays, can make your house feel fresh and new again-and the buyer feel calm and at home.

Image

4. Shed some light.

Make sure every light bulb is energy-efficient, and at the highest wattage the light fixture will allow. Give all fixtures a deep clean for maximum sparkle.

Image

5. Show off your storage space.

Store or dispose two-thirds of every closet and cupboard. It's an ideal time to decide what you want to keep, donate, or throw away. Organized storage is one of the most-requested features. Packed closets leave the impression that there isn't enough space/storage in the home.

Image

6. Make a minor kitchen update

The kitchen is the most important and most-used room in the house. It buyers fall in love here, they will compromise other items on their must-have list. It's easy: change the lighting to something new and bright, paint your dark cabinets light, update hardware for something more on trend.

Image

7. Don't neglect the bathrooms

Bathrooms are the second-most important space in the house. If you can, make some upgrades-at least in the main bath. Change old cabinet-style sinks for pedestal or furniture sinks; install a linen closet with deep pull-out drawers for maximum storage.

Image

8. Fix what's broken

Staging is as much about condition as it is decor. Buyers are savvy; they will deduct from the bid their own perceived value for deferred maintenance. So repair anything that needs it, replace any fixtures over eight years old, then clean like your life depends on it-because your equity will.

Image

9. Beware of odors and allergens

Scent is the strongest sense and the first impression. When you live in your home you can become "nose blind." Do this test: leave for a few hours and when you return take a good whiff. That's what buyers will smell. Open windows regularly, especially before a showing. Use odor neutralizers. Clean drapes, rugs, sofas-especially it you have pets. The rise in allergic diseases, increases the need to make your home as clean as possible. Household chemicals, pet hair and dander, fragrances can all be triggers.

Image

10. Put some serious thought into curb appeal

74% of prospective buyers will drive by your property before they think about viewing it; half will do it at night. You want your home to feel inviting, warm, and well kept. According to The National Association of Realtors, curb appeal sells more than half of all houses. Can we see the front door? Are hedges well groomed? Is your house number illuminated and visible from the street? Consider lighting pathways and spotlight a feature on the property, like a dramatic tree. Landscape experts agree that there is 100% return on investment for yard improvements. Outdoor entertainment space is of huge importance in today's market so don't underestimate your backyard.

"PREP YOUR HOME,

WATCH IT SELL FAST."

Learn the 3 Steps to Transform Your Home's Value. Plus get an updated market analysis for Bergen County

Real Experts. Real Results.

We Stage, Style and Sell Your Home Using Our Proven Value-Up Seller Method.

3 Cold Hard Truths for Sellers

  • First impressions matter. A recent study found that 80 percent of potential buyers know if a home is right for them as soon as they step inside.

  • The longer your home is on the market the lower the sales price. That’s because if your home is on the market for a while, buyers assume that the sale price is overpriced and make lower offers.

  • The longer the buyer delays an offer the lower the offer price. That’s natural because they are unsure if they want to make the offer and/or are hedging their bets between your property and another

Client Care: (201) 500-2212

25 Washington Street, Tenafly NJ 07670

Stacy Esser Consulting LLC