Higher interest rates, lower buyer activity, sellers reducing their prices, more homes on the market and for longer — what does all this mean? The Boise market is shifting!
After years of homes selling very quickly and for top dollar, it seems the party is over. This doesn’t mean that homes won’t sell. It just means realtors and sellers have to do more to make it happen.
Although never an option for us, some agents and their clients have been a little lax the last few years in preparing a home for sale, taking the attitude that it will sell regardless. And although maybe not for as much as it could, almost any home will sell when the market is hot!
However, when the market starts to cool and buyers become fearful and hesitant, they start to be pretty picky!
Every buyer has imagination and vision during a seller’s market. During a buyer’s market, not so much.
So we’ve put together a high-level list of things you can do to help your house sell faster and for more money in any market! As always, if you have specific questions about your house, give us a call at (208) 327-2127!
Throughout the House
- Walk through your home with a critical eye and make a list of any repairs or touch-ups that need to be done. Buyers don't want to go to the trouble of hiring someone to fix those items.
- Evaluate your flooring and replace if necessary
- Put away family photos and personal items
- Ensure it's easy to walk through each area of your house
- Fill and paint any nail holes or other mishaps in the walls, ensure you're using the same sheen and that your painted hasn't faded so your wall looks spotted after the repair
- Repaint walls a neutral color to brighten the home and make it look larger
- Repair or replace any loose or damaged wallpaper
- Clean or replace light and plumbing fixtures. New fixtures go a long way toward updating and modernizing a house
- Have the house professionally cleaned and the windows washed inside and out
- Use plants as warm pops of color that bring life into your house
- Do you have a loft or attic? Ensure it's staged to give buyers ideas about its potential
- Remove or hide excess extension cords and exposed wires
- Remove all smoke and pet odors. This can be a big one, call us for help!
- Repair or replace loose handrails, door knobs, cabinet doors, and fixtures
- Remove all clutter and unnecessary furniture from each room. Take a photo and imagine you're the buyer looking at the room. Would this photo of this room make you want to buy this house?
- Create a spacious-feeling entry area by removing items that close it in or make it dark
- Open the curtains and pull up the shades to let in the light for showings
- Create a positive mood by turning on all the lights before you leave the house for a showing
- Keep your home dusted, vacuumed, and picked up
- Air out your home for 30 minutes before showings
- Lightly spray the house with essential oils so it has a chance to diffuse before the buyer arrives
- Open doors to areas you want potential buyers to see such as walk-in closets, pantries, attics, and basements
- Have a family ‘game plan’ to get the home ready quickly before a showing
In the Kitchen
- Microwave a small dish of vanilla 20 minutes before a showing and place it in an out-of-the-way place
- Ensure the trash has been taken out and dishes are clean and put away
- Ensure your kitchen and bathrooms are spotlessly clean
- Put away small appliances to enhance your counter space
In the Bedrooms
- Create a spa-like primary suite with soft pillows and a comfy chair
- Depersonalize bedrooms and decorate in a neutral scheme
- Make sure beds are made and linens are clean
- Organize your closets, remove unnecessary items and put in storage
In the Bathrooms
- Wipe down sinks and shower areas after each use
- Recaulk the tub if the caulk is not sparkling white
- Repair or replace broken tiles in the shower/tub
- Replace shower curtains and keep them clean
- Put out fresh towels and decorative soaps
Outside
- Remove toys, bicycles, tools, unsightly patio furniture, and trash from the yard
- Paint all entry doors
- Make sure the garage door opens easily — repair and paint if necessary
- Prune trees and shrubs so they don't encroach on sidewalks or rub against the house, keep the yard mowed and raked at all times
- Ensure the front door and screen work perfectly
- Use flowering plants to dress up the yard, walkway, and patio
- Clean and shine all hardware and accessories — door knobs, lights, mail box, address numbers, etc
- Ensure the doorbell is in good working order
- Pressure wash sidewalks, driveways, and the exterior of the home to remove dust, debris, and cobwebs
- Porches, steps, verandas, balconies, patios, and other extensions of the house should be kept uncluttered, swept, and in good condition
- Buy a new large doormat and place at the front door
