Real Estate Agent Services
Ainslee Charles is a licensed real estate agent with Ventura Property Shoppe (CA License # 01969612). She helps Ventura County residents who are looking to buy or sell a home anywhere in the county. If you have any questions about working with a real estate agent, give her a call today at 805-250-8335. Below are some tips for selling your home for top dollar on the open market.
Make it Look Tempting
When it comes time to sell your home, you want top dollar for it! The best way to do this is by making your home look tempting to potential buyers. Changing the neighborhood is near impossible, changing the square footage or layout is time consuming and expensive, but just a few small changes with a minimal budget can help immensely in getting buyers in the door to see what the whole home has to offer. Since some buyers may not even make is past the driveway, make sure there’s some curb appeal with trimmed bushes, freshly cut lawn and clean windows. You may even consider replacing the front door which can make the home feel more updated right away. Although curb appeal is very important, don’t skimp on the backyard. Make sure everything is trimmed and that buyers can see themselves entertaining or utilizing the yard. Making a small budget for this may be the way to go if you can’t do it yourself. There are many neighborhood landscapers who can offer a “mini-makeover” prior to putting your home on the market.
Once you get the buyer to walk through the front door, your next step is to make the buyer feel like they could live there. The home needs to feel warm and comforting. If you’re still living in the home, it’s important to remove as much clutter as possible so the buyer doesn’t get overwhelmed by your personal items and can see what the space truly has to offer. Making sure that counters are clear and beds are made will allow the buyer to focus on what your home entails. If you have moved on and are no longer living in the home, hiring a local staging company may be the best money you could spend during this process. They will help the buyer envision what living in the home could feel like versus just seeing an empty space. Also, during an open house, scented candles or fresh baked cookies have a way of making people automatically feel cozy.
Listing Your Home
Listing your home is equally as important as how the home looks. This is the first look anyone will get at the property and you want to make sure potential buyers feel that they need to see it. The first step is to take into consideration the time of year as the market tends to slow down during the winter months and holiday seasons when traveling is common. If selling your home is not urgent, most real estate agents will recommend spring or fall listings.
Determining how much to list your home for is a tricky number to determine, but the first step is to evaluate the comparable in your immediate area, within a half mile or so. Taking into consideration the square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms is another starting point. Don’t forget to look at active listings as well as homes that have sold within the past six months. If you’re able to view pictures, or happen to have seen the inside of the neighboring sold homes, make sure you take into account the condition of each home, whether or not it had been updated or needed some TLC. All of this can be done from your desk at home, but getting the expert advice from a real estate agent could be worth the commissions that they work for. While time of year, price and pictures all matter, make your listing stands out to your potential buyer. Listing its features won’t catch their eye, but making them visualize living in the home before they even see it will entice them to come see your home!
Assistance With Selling Your Home
If you are thinking about selling your home or would like advice on how to start the process, contact Dream Home Property Solutions, LLC. We can walk you through the process, refer a realtor, or even help you with a For Sale By Owner (FSBO). Call a representative today at 805-250-8335 to find our more about our residential real estate services.