The selling of a home is a rigorous process that includes strategic marketing, home inspection and showcasing of the home to willing buyers. To ensure that you are able to gain top dollar, below are useful tips for selling your home in the Chicago real estate market.
1)First impressions matter
Your home has been your sanctuary for a long time and now you are parting ways with it by selling it to another home owner. Many parts of your home are susceptible to normal wear and tear due to harsh weather elements as well as aging. There may also be some things that you have grown comfortable with over the years that could turn off potential buyers.
Make sure to repair parts of the home that look worn out in the interior, such as a fresh coat of paint on the walls and repairing any scratches or damage on the floors. Since first impression matters, it is important to ensure that your home looks beautiful.
You also need to have good landscaping and a good looking exterior in order to give your home that great curb appeal. Be sure to check out the roof to make sure that it looks like it is in good condition (no missing shingles, etc.)
2)Clean your bathrooms and kitchen
Your kitchen and bathrooms are often the biggest selling points of your home. One thing that turns away potential home buyers is a dirty bathroom and kitchen. New home owners do not want to see the grease, dirt, or anything else you may have left in these rooms over the years!
As a home owner selling a home, it is important to ensure that the bathrooms sparkle. Spend a few minutes inspecting them. Have repairs made, display your best towels, mats and shower curtain. Be sure to also make your kitchen appliances shine.
3)Light up your home
During the day, you need to have all curtains in your home pulled back and let the natural light in. Closing your curtains will not only create poor visibility in your home during daytime but prospective home owners will have the notion that you are hiding something.
During the night, you need to turn on the excitement too. Turn all vital lights both in the interior and exterior of the home. Light during the night adds color, warmth and creates a welcome feeling to guests.
4)Inspect your plumbing beforehand
A leaking plumbing system means more hidden problems in the eyes of a potential homebuyer. Be sure to check your plumbing below your sinks in the kitchen and bathrooms. Cleaning or changing your kitchen and bathroom sink faucets are also a great and inexpensive way to make your bathrooms & kitchens look good at first sight.
5)Check your storage space
A lot of homes in the Chicago area have basements and attics. Living in a home for a few years converts both areas into storage locations. The worst part is that things stored in these rooms are usually disorganized therefore creating a dirty environment.
New home owners visiting your home are not only looking for comfortable living space but they are looking for a home that offers them plenty of storage space. You need to have your basement and attic cleaned and organized beforehand.
6)Keep an eye on your pets
Cats and dogs are great pets to have in the home but as animals, they are familiar with few people. When you want to sell your home, it is important to keep an eye on your pets when prospective buyers are around.
You don’t want to have your German shepherd or Pitbull chasing away the buyers or even causing injuries. You can have someone take the pets out for a walk or you can have a friend or relative host them while you show prospective home buyers around.
7)Relax, relax and relax more
Every home owner selling a home always hopes to nab that top home buyer who will make a great offer that one cannot step away from. You will find many home owners being nervous as they show new buyers around their home.
Maybe they don’t want the floor to creak, the plumbing to leak, the electrical wiring to become faulty or the roof to start leaking when it rains. Don’t be nervous, relax. You need to be friendly and not start a forced conversation.
Prospective buyers want to take a look around without any distractions therefore don’t create one.
8)Last but not least, pricing!
Price your home too low and you could leave thousands of dollars on the table. Price your home too high and your home will just sit on the market, putting off all potential buyers. Make sure you do your research about what price to market your home to ensure that you get the most out of your investment. You can use our comparative analysis tool below to get an idea of what to price your home at.
When you decide to sell your home in Chicago, it can be a big decision to make that requires preparation and planning, as our homes are often our greatest financial asset. As a family, when you are ready to sell your home, it is wise to hire an experienced Chicago realtor who will handle everything involved in the selling of the home.