My Favorite “Secret” Tips for Home Sellers

The way a house is presented is one of the most important factors in how successfully it performs on the market. With the advent of home makeovers and real estate shows, pretty much everyone is aware that homes that are in great condition and properly presented for the market will do better than others. Here are some of my favorite secret tips that can take your property from a great to a stellar performance that you may not have considered:

• Deep cleaning is more than superficial. It gives the impression that a property is well cared for in every way. So pay attention to areas that may not get regular attention, like appliances, moldy grout, dusty fans, light fixtures filled with dead bugs, vents caked with dirt, and windows. You can bet that sellers who are focused on the details will have maintained the inner workings of their homes as well.
• Special spaces resonate. If you have a unique room, like a private finished office studio, garage bar, kids bunk room, insanely nice finished basement, or tropical sunroom that’s perfect for indoor plants, your house will stand out from the pack. We’ve seen some cool spaces that really “sell” a house.
• Don’t depersonalize too much. This applies to both the architecture of the house and the decor. Let the personality of your house shine through from original tile work to unpainted woodwork and stone. Too much sterilization and “updating” strip the character from your house. Having an owner’s cherished furniture, artwork, and decorative pieces around also lends warmth to a home’s presentation. Not everything should look like it was just pulled off the shelf at Home Goods.
• Light it up. There isn’t a single buyer out there who is looking for a dark and gloomy house. Open your blinds and shades, add table and floor lamps, replace broken bulbs, and upgrade older recessed lighting with LED fixtures so that rooms are bright and the white trim is not discolored. Bringing in the light will also bring in more buyer interest in your home.
• Don’t be afraid to bring in color. White and gray are so boring! Whether it’s an accent wall of delightful wallpaper, some bright pillows and accessories, or seasonal potted flowers on the front doorstep and window boxes, adding colorful pops makes your home look more appealing in photos and brings more attention to your home.

If you have questions about getting your house ready to sell, please contact me. Your questions are always welcome.

The Allison Ziefert Real Estate Group is a top-producing real estate team based at Compass in Short Hills, NJ. We are local market experts, specializing in real estate and homes in Maplewood, South Orange, Millburn/Short Hills, Montclair/Glen Ridge, West Orange, Morristown, and the surrounding NJ towns. We’ve also got you covered coast to coast with the best connections to top agents around the country in any market you are exploring. We are driven by earning great testimonials and referral business from happy clients. You can read our reviews here.