Home Staging Articles
Prepare Your Home for a Top-Dollar Sale
By Jeanette Joy Fisher
Don't just list your home and hope for the best
outcome. Studies prove that homes prepared for sale
sell more quickly and for higher prices.
If you're selling your home in a cooling real
estate market, here are some steps that you can take
to prepare your home for a quick sale without lowering
your price.
1. Profile your perfect home buyer or "Target
Market." Don't market your home to an investor if
you want to get top dollar! Think about the people who
own homes and live in your neighborhood. Are they
ordinary folks or doctors and lawyers? Are the new
home owners first-time home buyers or move-up buyers?
Vacant "Starter Home" staged with cast offs, a bowl
of fruit, and new window coverings that let in light
while blocking unpleasant view of neighboring home's
side wall.
2. Get to know your competition. Go look at
other homes nearby to see what the competition offers.
Make yourself a spreadsheet to list features and
comparables to your home.
3. Make a plan of action to sell your home.
List changes that need to be made to compete with the
other homes and then add changes that will make your
home stand out. You need to learn how to use colors
and building material that attract your target buyer.
For instance, if you're selling to first-time home
buyers, they're not as picky and generally prefer
primary colors. More sophisticated buyers expect
perfection and prefer complex colors.
4. Use Design Psychology strategies to sell.
Learn how to get the designer look on a dime. Don't
spend money on improvements that won't pay you back.
For instance, you don't have to completely remodel
your kitchen but a fresh coat of paint, which costs
about $20, and a new faucet for under $100 can add
thousands to your sale.
5. Set your price to compete with the other
homes your buyers will choose from. Don't let real
estate agents pressure you to lower your sales price.
It only takes one buyer to fall in love with your
home.
6. Make a sales flyer that really works.
Don't be generic with the number one sales tool.
Marketing Psychology helps you copy Internet marketers
proven strategies. List the benefits to the home
buyer, not your home's features.
7. Use home staging methods to show your home.
Go beyond the typical home staging and create a
buyer's fantasy. Stage you home with activities that
connect to your target buyers.
No matter what the real estate market does this
year, you must protect your equity. Don't just put up
the "for sale" sign and hope for the best. Prepare
your home for a top-dollar sale.
Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher
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