Almost 6 million homes sold in the United States in 2018 – and that figure continues to rise!
If you’re one of the millions of homeowners wanting to relocate to a new home, the first thing you need to do is put your house on the property market. Real estate agents, however, can be costly.
Use this guide to find out how to sell by owner without hefty realtor fees.
Can You Really Sell Without a Realtor?
If you’re confident negotiating with people and can handle complex legal documentation, there’s no reason you can’t list your home as for sale by owner!
Have your property valued and professionally photographed, then get a flat-fee MLS listing to start promoting your house for sale. It really can be that straightforward!
How to Sell By Owner: 5 Home Presentation Tips to Boost Buyer Interest
Without a realtor negotiating for you, it’s up to you to make your home reach its maximum sale price. These home staging tips will make prospective buyers warm to your property and even compete with each other to win the deal!
1. Make Your Home Smell Incredible
Scented candles or subtle clean fragrances can lift the atmosphere of an entire house.
Go one step further: bake some cookies in the oven when you hold an open house. There is nothing more enticing than home baking – and you’ll also be helping prospective buyers imagine themselves cooking in your kitchen, too.
2. Hire a Professional Cleaning Company
Before your open house, book a professional cleaning company for a few hours to make the place gleam.
You’ll be too busy setting up the rooms and working on your sales pitch to focus on a decent clean. Professional cleaners will be worth the investment as it could add potentially thousands to an offer price.
3. Light Dark Corners
Clever lighting can open up a space and make it feel cozy at the same time.
Open up your curtains and blinds wide on sunny days. Subtle lighting such as string lights or table lamps in darker corners of your home adds warmth and depth, making rooms seem larger.
4. Don’t Forget Curb Appeal
Make sure you tidy up your garden, yard, or outdoor spaces. A quick coat of masonry paint on your front porch could be all it takes to add a valuable percentage to your asking price!
Put trash cans out of sight and clean up any neglected garden furniture or ornaments. Tidy up shrubs and clear leaves from your lawn.
5. Don’t Worry About a Show-Home Level of Style
You don’t need to make your home look like it belongs in an interior design magazine feature. We buy houses that already feel like a home – it’s much easier to imagine ourselves living in them.
Leave a book on the coffee table, fresh-cut flowers on the kitchen table, and family photos in the hall. These little touches will help it feel like a home that’s loved – and wants to be lived in.
More Ways to Increase Your Home’s Value
These presentation tips will help entice potential buyers at your open house to bid a great price for your property – but there are even more things you can do to add to your home’s value.
If you want to know how to sell by owner with a little more time and more in-depth DIY projects that can add thousands of dollars to your asking price, check out our home improvement blogs!