How to Prepare Your Home to Sell in Sacramento?
The most important point is to consider your home as a product to be sold. Just like any product on the shelves at your local store it has features and benefits, the pluses & minuses of the home. Another vital point is there are other houses on the Sacramento real estate market to compare to your house. To gain an edge in the local home marketplace you must be priced right and look better than the competition.
Sometimes it is difficult to think of your home as a mere product, but it helps to think that way so that you can get top dollar for your property and sell in a reasonable amount of time.
How to craft your home’s first impression?
Don’t judge a book by the cover is good advice for relationships but poor advice for selling books. You home’s cover is its first impression. Wow them or have to keep overcoming objections why the house is worth it to the buyer.
In the first 15 seconds…. people make snap decisions in new situations. This is especially true during a showing of a home they are considering. In preparing your home for the market, we need to use this trait of human nature to work for us. Your home needs to impress during the showing. The buyer will make judgments about your home as they view it through the “lens” formed in that first 15 seconds.
The 4 important selling features that dictate the success of a real estate sale are:
1. The price of the property – The pricing of the home will dictate the marketing strategy.
2. The real estate market conditions — Interest rates, employment levels and confidence in the Sacramento area are things we do not control but they impact us as we market your home.
3. The real estate marketing plan – We will be working very hard on the marketing for your property
4. The house’s condition — This is as important as price. If the condition is not model home perfect, price will have to be adjusted. When homes have that kind of appeal, they sell quickly and usually for the highest price possible. A side benefit of a good-looking home is that it usually helps the transaction be remarkably free of problems.
How does the price of the home and the condition blend together?
If the goal is to get top dollar for your home, than it is most important to have price and condition perfected when your property first goes on the market. If you want the property to sell quick and in “as is” condition, the price should be attractive to cash buyers. The matching of price and condition is the key to a successful sale. Check out tips for selling a fixer upper house can help.
What needs fixing to make the house most attractive to the home buyer?
Anything that will diminish the buyer’s view of the home needs to be addressed. Fixing, replacing problem items and small updates make the house a move in ready home. Then a thorough cleaning from top to bottom will give the house that new home look.
If you have a “honey-do” list or know of items that need to be addressed at your home, do them up front. The last thing we want is the buyer to wonder if you have cared for your home. Fix anything that needs attention upfront and avoid buyers walking away from the property.
Our experience in the marketing and sale of homes will allow us to guide you in making low cost, high value enhancements to the positioning of your property. Coffee Real Estate is a key asset you have in making the right improvements to the home.
Why is the first impression your home important?
The first impression sets the importance and value of the property in the buyer’s mind. If the first impression is poor, there may be no way to get the buyer to look at the property seriously.
Any realtor will tell you that one of the worst things that happens to them in the course of showing properties to qualified buyers is to drive up to a home and have them say: “I don’t want to look at this house” – before you have even put the car in park. This impression is nearly impossible to overcome.
They are imaging driving up the road or driveway to the house and thinking “could this be my home.” If the first impression is no, then they don’t even want to waste the time to see what is inside.
You can always sell to a local investors who buy in “as is” condition. The “We Buy Houses” in Sacramento company.
How to Prepare Your Home to Sell in Sacramento?
The detailed list following is how the process works to preparing to sell your Sacramento house for the best possible price.
Start by standing in front of your home with this checklist and pen. Jot down anything that leaps out at you. Then, walk around the outside of your home with this checklist in hand.
The information is displaced as a checklist. You can get this checklist in a free PDF.
The starting place to prepare your home to sell in Sacramento is the exterior.
The following list of items to address to create that move in ready, attractive home is a living document. If you have any issues or ideas to share, let me know and I will add it to the list. Also please share this info with anyone getting ready to sell their home.
The front yard is extremely important to the first impression.
1) Shrubs and landscaping should enhance, not hide, the home. Shrubs should be lowered to, at most, the height of the home.
2) As a rule of thumb, all tree limbs should be far enough from the ground so you can walk under them.
3) Flowers add color and beauty to the home. Flowerbeds should be clean, and look good in all seasons. Make sure all beds have a sharp edge and are free of leaves and debris.
4) Keep the lawn mowed and neatly edged. A perfectly mowed lawn does wonders for appearance. You may have to mow twice per week during growing season.
5) Aerate and seed any bare or thin spots in your lawn. Consider using sod if necessary.
6) Arrange for a lawn fertilization company to set up an accelerated program to keep your lawn a deep green color and weed free.
7) Mulch will do wonders to boost the presence and stature of your home at any time of the year. Always make sure all beds are freshly mulched. During the winter, at the very least, front yard and approach beds should be mulched.
8) Check your flower beds, lawn areas and driveway for weeds. It is better to pull them than to use chemicals. Chemicals take a long time to work and the dead and dying weeds look awful as they go from yellow to brown. Only use herbicides to maintain these areas once the main weeding has been completed.
9) In the fall, be sure to rake leaves from your lawn and from planting beds. This may need to be done every couple of days.
10) Inspect your property and remove all trash cans, discarded wood scraps, and trash. Re-stack wood piles if necessary and remove all storage containers, children’s toys and other unnecessary objects.
11) Make sure windows are spotless. This includes frames around the windows, the sills and shutters.
12) Consider painting or cleaning any ornamental fences, light posts and railings.
13) Vacuum out and clean the glass on all of the exterior light fixtures.
14) If you have a covered entryway, add a bench or attractive set of chairs to help the buyers imagine themselves relaxing in their new home. If these items already exist, make sure they are clean, inviting and some place a person could actually sit.
15) Clear any pathways to water faucets, sprinklers or other amenities on your property like out buildings. This includes trimming low hanging branches. It is important to remove these items as they should not line the path.
16) Clean up, rake and check any street and curb areas.
17) Keep driveway swept. If not paved, rake and add more gravel if needed.
18) Clean gutters & wash or paint the trim if needed.
19) Consider an exterior low pressure washing.
It is surprising how important the front door is on the first impression of the home
20) Consider a fresh coat of paint or varnish on the front door. At the very least, clean the door and hardware.
21) Make sure your doorbell not only functions but is not cracked or broken.
22) Keep your porch swept.
23) Have an attractive welcome mat for people to wipe their feet. A second mat inside is important during bad weather.
24) Make sure the mailbox is clean, consider cost of rust proof paint.
25) Verify house numbers are large and visible. We want to make sure buyers and agents are able to find your home.
Now we go inside the home and the appeal must keep up the great impression the outside made. Ok now is the time to wow the buyers to make them want the home even more.
It is a good exercise to try and see the home through your heart. To get the highest price, you have to appeal to potential buyers who will see your home through cold, calculating eyes. If buyers have the choice between two comparable properties that are similar in price, they will choose the one in the best condition and feels like home.
The following checklist will help you give the inside of your home the greatest presence.
1) Get the home aired out. Someone who lives in a place is the last person to notice any peculiar odor that may be obvious to visitors. However, if you do notice any bad odor, search for and destroy its source.
2) Wash all the windows inside and out. Clean the window sills and the bottoms of the window jams. Wash the blinds and vacuum the drapes.
3) If your carpets look dirty or have not been cleaned in over a year, clean them. Buyers only know what they see. Not the way it is going to be. Unless your home is a “fixer”, badly worn or very out of date carpets should be replaced before coming on the market. Offering a buyer a credit to pick their own new carpet or discount off the price is far less effective and usually ends up costing more money and slowing down the selling process. Pick a light colored short plush or Berber carpet. Realtor beige is a safe color.
4) Clean or polish all floors.
5) Clean all the closets, cabinets, and drawers. Get rid of things you have not used in the past 5 years and pack everything that you have not used the past year (this will also give you a head start on moving).
6) Make sure the closets look like they have enough room to hold additional items. Make sure doors do not stick and nothing will fall out when opened. Get everything off the floor (unless very neatly arranged) and do not have the shelves piled to the ceiling. If necessary, box up off-season clothes (this is another head start on moving). All coats should be facing in the same direction.
7) There should not be too much furniture in the rooms. You will be far better off selecting the pieces that look best and putting the others in the garage or in storage.
8) Make sure fireplace mantels are not overloaded with items on display. A couple of well-placed items like a vase or small flower arrangement are all that is needed.
9) Make the fireplace a focal point, the star of the room. Arrange seating to face the fireplace. Remove the television, if large and in a formal living room.
10) Clear the ashes out of any fireplace if it is not being used.
11) Clear out family photos and all other items that say “You do not live here” to a potential buyer. Fill any holes and touch up paint from taking them down.
12) Put maximum safe wattage of light bulbs in all fixtures.
13) Clean all wall switches and replace broken plates.
14) Make sure that any pull-down staircase is strong enough to be used safely.
15) Consider whether the posters currently in your children’s rooms are likely to offend any buyers. If so, store those posters for now.
16) Remove all ashtrays. If there is a smoker in the residence, all smoking must be outside (not in garage) while property is on the market.
17) Invest in some new and luxurious bedding (comforter, sheets, and accent pillows). You can take them when you move, and they will improve the look of the bedrooms while your current house is on the market.
18) If your house is the least bit dated, consider changing items that will increase your home’s desirability such as dated wallpaper, light fixtures, etc.
The kitchen may be the most important room in the home. Clean this room like your sale depends on it- because it does!
19) Clean the oven and keep it clean; even if this means eating out (or getting deliveries) more often.
20) After cleaning the range, put new drip pans under the burners or foil over the old ones.
21) Clean around the seal of the dishwasher door.
22) Look at the kitchen as if you were a health home inspector. Paying particular attention to:
- Garbage area
- Cracks
- Corners
23) Make certain you get rid of all junk, broken or cracked dishes. Also remove disorganized items that have accumulated in the kitchen drawers and cabinets.
24) Keep everything put away that can be put away, especially on counters.
25) Check the cabinet doors and door handles for fingerprints.
26) Put soaps and supplies in cabinets or containers.
27) Keep counters and sink clean and empty.
28) The laundry room is a good place to take special care with lighting. Many laundry rooms are way too dark. Upgrade wattage in light fixtures if safe to do so.
The bathrooms are a key part of any home. Create an inviting, clean atmosphere.
29) Repair all leaky faucets.
30) Caulk bathtubs, showers, and sinks.
31) Coordinate towels in one or two colors. Fold clean towels in thirds and hang onto racks each day. Purchase new towels if necessary.
32) Clear all items out of shower stalls and tubs except for necessities.
33) Clean or replace shower curtains.
34) If necessary, remove the shower door for cleaning. Use solution of one part muriatic acid to 10 parts water (use goggles when mixing), then scrub with plastic scouring pad and rinse clean.
35) Fresh flower arrangements do wonders for a bathroom, both in appearance and aroma. No plug-in air fresheners or scented candles.
36) If you have pets, be sure to clean around their food areas and empty litter boxes frequently.
The garage can add a ton of value to the home or create a pile of issues. Make the garage a value building part of the property.
37) Clean and sweep garage. Consider painting walls flat white and floors light gray.
38) Store any dangerous tools and arrange others neatly. Use containers and tool boxes as necessary.
39) Vacuum pipes around heating system which are visible.
40) Check garage windows and screens. Windows should be clean and screens free of rips and tears. Windows should be checked for cracks and holes. Replace as needed.
41) Make sure that any pull-down staircases, such as to an attic, are working. Be sure that there is a working light in the attic, if equipped.
Remove all “junk” from the attic, basement, closets, garage, and tool shed. Large storage areas appeal to buyers. Rent a storage unit and clear out as much as possible to make your home feel open and roomy.
How to prepare to make the home most attractive for the house photography appointment?
To produce the best possible real estate marketing materials especially for the internet the photos need to show your house in the best possible appeal. Think about how the house will be photographed from multiple angles. Both the interior and exterior of your home will be photographed. The exterior of the property needs to be cleared, trimmed and in show condition. The interior will have every room photographed. This includes bathrooms, laundry room, specialty rooms and garage.
Taking photos of the exterior of the property is the first point buyers want to know. The buyers ask themselves “Do I want to live here?”
1) Front and rear yards should be clear of lawn equipment, toys and debris.
2) Schedule a mowing for the day before if possible.
3) Garage doors should be closed.
4) Cars should be in the garage or parked on the street away from the front of the house, if possible.
5) Clear lawn and gardens of leaves and fallen branches. .
6) Close lid on grill and open any deck or patio umbrellas, no matter the time of year. Built- in grills need to be spotless.
7) Tidy piled up hoses, lawn decorations, etc.
8) If you have a pet, please pick up any messes in the yard and remove the pet from the home for your photography appointment.
Taking photos of the interior of the house is when the buyers ask themselves “Can this house become our home?”
9) Turn on all lights to make the home as bright as possible.
10) Open all window cover-ups and shades completely.
11) Clear all unnecessary articles from counter tops, coffee tables, dressers and bathrooms.
12) Remove items that would impact the buyers’ ability to focus on the home such as family photos, collectibles, piles of magazines/books, coats, boots, etc…
13) Beds should be made and all unnecessary articles should be removed from floors and doorways.
14) If you have any photos, reading materials, videos or other items that would not be appropriate for all age groups to see, please put them away.
15) Put pet food dishes and litter boxes out of view of the camera.
How important is the home showing in Sacramento?
The home showing in Sacramento is the most important decision point for ready, willing and able home buyers. The home showing is when they decide to buy the home. Home buyers stop looking and make an offer to buy a property when they feel this is it. The home showing creates “this is our new home” moment.
Your property looks great and you have a scheduled showing appointment. Here’s how to get ready quickly. And keep in mind you get one chance with each home buyer, so don’t take a chance and not do a great job getting ready for this next one.
1) Open all drapes and window shades.
2) Open all doors between rooms to give an inviting feeling.
3) Turn on all lights, including lamps.
4) Turn off the TV.
5) Look around for clutter, including newspapers and magazines and clear it away.
6) See that the kitchen counters are free of unnecessary items and that any dirty dishes are put away.
7) Remember to take out the trash. If you have pets, get them out of the way and take care of their food and/or litter area.
8) Make sure beds are made and clothes are picked up.
9) Verify that the bathroom is straightened up: toilet lids down, counter tops cleared off, towels hung neatly, etc.
10) If it is fireplace season or you have a gas log, light the fire as buyers arrive.
11) NO air fresheners or scented candles. They can aggravate allergies and create an image of covering up or masking issues.
12) Keep your home well light. Buyers will drive by at odd hours and you want your home to stand out. Keep ample lights on-both inside and out-until at least 9:00p.m. everyday.
Whenever you leave the house in the morning or during the day, please leave it as if you are sure it is going to be shown.
This is difficult sometimes and it might even mean you have to get up a little earlier in order to take care of these important items, but you never know when the right people are going to look at your home. This way, you will always be ready for them!
Please try to accommodate all showings. Buyers tend to look at multiple properties during each outing and may find another before you are able to reschedule.
If your electric bill does not go up while your house is on the market- you are doing something wrong! While on the market, your house will have the lights left on in case of a showing and a comfortable temperature should be maintained.
Keep pets out of the way during showings-preferably out of the house. Many people are uncomfortable around animals and may even be allergic to them.
During a showing, leave the premises. Take a short break while your home is being shown. Buyers are intimidated when sellers are present and tend to hurry through the house. Let the buyers be at ease, and let the agents do their jobs.
Agents should leave the home exactly as it was when they arrived. They do not know if you have another showing after they leave. So, if you would like certain lights turned off or blinds closed, please leave a note at your home.
Your home is now prepared to sell in the highly competitive Sacramento real estate market. When you do this work you know you have the best chance to get top dollar for your home.
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