In today’s age, you can find tons of online resources about selling your house, but it’s rare to see any real estate agent giving away their best-kept secrets. After seeing clients succeed (and some fail), I can tell you confidently there are a few tricks you can employ to get buyers truly interested in your house. What it takes is a little market knowledge and understanding the types of people looking. So below, read my 5 best-kept secrets to selling a house in Ann Arbor, MI:

1. First Impressions Mean Everything

From the time the buyer walks from their car to your front door, they have already judged your house. You literally have 6 seconds before a buyer either thinks: “This house is ugly and terrible” or “This house is beautiful. I’m excited to see inside.” People judge books by their cover, which is why you need to make sure your house is likable and welcoming. For example, spruce up the exterior, add some flowers, and eliminate any flaws. Make the entryway appealing too – by adding a vase of flowers or a small bench for utility purposes.

2. Set a Price Buyers Gravitate Towards

Most people start their home search online, and the first parameter they set is the price range. If your home isn’t priced correctly, barely anyone will ever see your house online. If the property is priced higher than average, buyers might look at more affordable homes before yours, making it hard to get anyone in the door (to look).

So, make sure you set a price that people naturally gravitate towards. Pricing your home slightly below the market average will certainly generate interest, but before you make any decision, look at the market data and consult your real estate agent.

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3. Half-Empty Closets Show You Have Space

I have heard this advice a dozen times: “Remove any clutter in your house.” The problem this usually generates is buyers take that “clutter” and stuff it in their closets. They forget buyers look in those areas to see how much room they’ll have – and if it’s stuffed with junk, buyers will think you have no room. To demonstrate there’s plenty of storage space in your house, pack most of your stuff into moving boxes (since you’ll be moving anyways) and leave a few items in the closet to show how it’s housed. This will leave a positive impact on buyers.

4. Remodeling Isn’t Necessary to Sell for Top Dollar

Buyers often think they need to remodel their kitchen or bathroom in order to sell their house for top dollar. In reality, remodeling will typically cost more than what you’ll earn back. The simplest solution is to upgrade what really needs fixing and add some cosmetic touches. Changing out fixtures, door handles, and faucets can have the same impact as doing a full remodel, but at a fraction of the cost.

5. Sell the Lifestyle

Almost every other day, I come across an article or agent who suggests removing any personalization in the house (i.e. remove the “home” out of the property). Though I agree that excessive family photos on the fridge aren’t the most appealing factor when selling, it doesn’t mean you should take out the lifestyle in the house. For example, if you have a utility space to hold your snow skis and recreational equipment, you should up-sell that point. People moving to the area probably enjoy a similar lifestyle, and that could be a unique selling advantage you have over others.

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If you’d like more information about selling your house in Ann Arbor, feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.

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If you have ever mentioned interest in selling your house to friends, you’ve probably been on the receiving end of lots of advice. Today, it seems like everyone has an opinion or some sort of “trick” you should try to selling – but a lot of that information may not stand true anymore. And mistakes in real estate can cost thousands of dollars. To help get you on the right path to selling your house, we’re bringing common seller myths to court and putting them on trial. Here are the verdicts:

Court Case #1: The Outside of My House Isn’t As Important as the Inside

The Defense: The interior will sell the home, not the yard-space. Buyers care more about what features the home contains than how it looks on the outside.

Prosecution: People judge books by their cover, and it holds true in real estate. It’s why first impressions matter. In reality, you have 6 seconds to create a positive outlook before buyers reach a judgment – and that time is spent walking up to the front door. You need to tidy up the yard, add some flowers, and craft a welcoming entrance. That way, you aren’t fighting an uphill battle (of negative impressions) to sell the house.

Verdict: First impressions set a buyer’s frame of mind. Impress them with the outside and they’ll be more likely to buy.

Court Case #2: I’ll Get 100% of My Investment Back on Home Renovations

The Defense: By installing and remodeling the house to look “new” and offer more stuff, buyers will pay more money for the house (giving me a full return on my investment).

Prosecution: Typically, you won’t receive 100% return profit on your home renovations. Most major remodels costs thousands of dollars, but will only increase your home’s value by a slight margin. Homeowners also forget to take into account current market conditions, so even though you make renovations, it doesn’t mean buyers can afford it. Instead, you should focus on making small, cosmetic repairs to help sell the house. Don’t focus too much on the return profit.

Verdict: Large home renovations don’t promise a 100% return investment. Focus on smaller repairs to get your home sold

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Court Case #3: You Should Overprice Your Home to Leave Room for Negotiation

The Defense: Buyers always try to bargain, so why not bake in extra room to get the price I want?

Prosecution: Overpricing can be a slippery slope in real estate. Every buyer is on a budget and that’s how they start their home search. If your home is priced out of the usual standard, they’re going to pass over your property and look at your neighbors. Why pay a higher price for a similar home? Save your negotiation strategies for when you have interested buyers. Price to the market, so you generate interest.

Verdict: Price your home to current market trends, so you attract buyers. Pricing above average will leave your home sitting on the market longer.

The Jury on Home Selling Myths

Dozens of homeowners have made these mistakes when they sold their house. A lot of it stemmed from misinformation. By doing your homework, communicating with your real estate agent, and looking at current data, you can effectively sell your house. It’s better to hear pro-advice rather than a friend’s advice. If you have any questions about selling your house, contact us and we’ll help guide you.

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