The following ten tips for avoiding mistakes when selling a house may seem simple, but trust us, they definitely make a big difference when it comes to selling your home fast, and at the best possible price. So if you’re thinking about listing your home, or if you’ve already listed your home and it is lingering on the market, take a quick look at the list below.
With 33+ years of experience, Team Athey & Remarkable Property Management knows what makes a home attractive to buyers. Therefore, we thought it would be beneficial to homeowners, and honestly, other realtors, to make a checklist of things that people sometimes forget about or are resistant to change because they don’t realize what a big turnoff it is to potential buyers.
Trust our team to give it to you straight. We could pander to you and let your house linger forever, but that’s not our way. We want the best possible experience for our clients and that sometimes means giving a little tough love. Are you ready to hear what we have to say?
Because here we go!
Number 1 —Select an experienced Realtor! Selling your home is a big money transaction. This is not the time to save money with a discount broker who will put in as little work as possible. Take your time and interview several agents. Make certain they have a proven track record in selling homes like yours. Ask if they have all the proper affiliations such as being a member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR). But perhaps most importantly, choose someone you feel a connection with because you need to feel a certain level of confidence with each other. In short, you need to trust each other. 
Number 2 — Secure your pet. Maybe this one should be first instead of second. It’s definitely important. Because whether it is a buyer that is afraid of dogs or one that is allergic to cats,having a pet on the loose is a recipe for disaster. The least of which is the pet can become frightened and run out the door.
Number 3 — Get rid of smells. Let’s face it, you may not even realize your house has strange odors because you’ve lived with them for so long. So bring in a close friend and have them tell it to you straight. (We’ll tell it to you straight if you choose us. And we’ll tell it to you straight even if you don’t choose us.) Do your carpets have pet odors? Does your bathroom smell like mildew? Does your perfume permeate your entire house in an overwhelming way? Because scent is connected to memory and you don’t want potential buyers walking away holding their noses while thinking of grandma’s mothballs. You want them to remember grandma’s chocolate chip cookies, or cinnamon buns, wafting warm from the oven. You get the olfactory picture so let’s move on.
Number 4 — Clean windows and front entrances. Drive-up appeal is everything to potential buyers. Well-swept entries and welcoming walkways say you’re a homeowner that cares about the details. Sparkling windows let in natural light and showcase your home as being ultra clean. And, yes, those carpets and rugs need to be cleaned. People notice. 
Number 5 — Give oversized furniture the boot. Why? Because it makes rooms seem smaller. Store the big pieces and have a professional stage your home with just right stylish pieces all perfectly placed. Sure, it may cost upfront for a stager, but you’ll most likely recoup the cost when you sell.
Number 6 — Make your beds. We know, we know. We sound like your mother . . . but it’s true, if you get up and make your bed right away your whole day will go better. And buyers will be more attracted to your tidy home.
Number 7 — Pick up your junk. And while we’re on the subject of being tidy. Pick up your clothes and personal grooming products. No one wants to see a dirty pair of underwear on the floor or your toothbrush and deodorant on the bathroom sink. Oh, is that athlete’s foot powder on the counter near the shower? Okay, okay enough already. By now things should be shaping up around your home. Trust us, you’ll thank us at closing.
Number 8 — Nix the silk flowers and plastic plants. Now you may be thinking, I like my floral arrangements and no-water foliage. So we’re going to cut you a little slack here. If you make sure the fakes look real and are not collecting dust, you can keep a few. But only a few.
Number 9 — Make sure locks and keys work properly. This may seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised at how many house tours don’t happen because the realtor can’t get the door open. Also, remember to turn the house alarm off, or give the correct alarm code, so you won’t give buyers a heart attack.
Number 10 — Get rid of clutter. Those trinkets and personal mementos that make your house feel like home to you are also making buyers feel like the home is yours and could never be theirs. It is hard for someone to envision a home as their own if there are family photos, trophies, collections and other memorabilia from someone else’s life. So pack them away. Just for a little while until we get your house sold and you’re in your new home
I’m Suzanne Athey, founder of Team Athey & Remarkable Property Management. If you’d like to know more about the unique way we do business, call me at 469-916-1222 or email me at suzanne@teamathey.com. I’d love to visit with you and answer all your questions. Communication is essential when it comes to selling your home—potentially one of the biggest investments of your life.
