There are several things that a seller can do to make their property stand out to buyers so it sells quickly and for the highest price. Here are 7 of the best tried and true tips to selling your home fast and for top dollar.

Find a Realtor® To Work With

Your realtor® will help you get the most money for your home in several ways, but the main two that you can’t do on your own are 1. They have access to list your home on the MLS where 88% of buyers are looking. This will give your home the most exposure to attract lots of buyers and sell your home quickly. 2. Your realtor® is trained and experienced in negotiating and do it almost daily. They know what works and what doesn’t and most agents have a couple tricks up their sleeve when it comes to getting you the best deal on your home. Typically a realtor® will be able to negotiate a better deal for you as a 3rd party than you could do on your own.

Declutter and Depersonalize

When a buyer walks into your home for the first time, you want them to be able to picture themselves living in the home. If your home is full of your belongings, odd and ends, family pictures etc. it makes the buyer feel like they are intruding on your space rather than being able to imagine themselves living there.

One of the biggest reasons people move is because they need to upgrade to a larger space. If your personal items are filling the home, your prospective buyers may still feel crowded in the space and may not choose the home for that reason. Also remember that though buyers are usually respectful when they walk into a home that is occupied, they will still look inside the pantry and inside the closets. Decluttering, whether you put several of your belongings in boxes or get rid of some things, will really help your house make a good impression on your prospective buyers.

Clean, Clean, Clean

Again, first impressions are everything, in-fact buyers usually spend about 15 minutes in each home they look at and usually don’t go back unless they are almost certain your home is “the one” So stinky smells, dirty floors, and dusty shelves usually don’t give a great impression and will likely cause your home to drop from first pick. So make sure you give your home a good deep clean before you show it!

Make Repairs

The hassle of moving is a task of its own and generally home buyers don’t want to do any repairs or make improvements on the home once they purchase it. They want the luxury of just moving in. When a home is in tip top shape, you will have lots of buyers interested. Buyers are more willing to pay top dollar for homes that are move in ready. This is why you need to make sure you fix any major or cosmetic issues with your home before you put it on the market.

Stage Your Home

Home staging is becoming one of the most effective real estate marketing strategies in the industry. Home staging ensures that the home looks its best, It helps buyers visualize the property as their future home and it captures the emotion of the buyers, who are making one of the biggest purchases of their lifetime. Studies show that Buyers are willing to pay 1%-5% more on a staged home than a non-staged home and that homes that are staged typically sell for more than 6% above asking price. Weather you choose to stage your home with the help of you agent or higher a professional staging company, this is definitely one to put high on your priority list.

Get Professional Photos

90% of buyers start their real estate search online. The photos of your home on the internet are the very first impression a buyer will have on your house. Home listing with professional photos sell 50% faster and 39% closer to the listing price. Professional real estate photographers have special wide angle lenses on their cameras that can capture your space in the most beautiful way to show prospective buyers the layout, condition and give them a good idea what the house is like before seeing it in person They are also very particular about the lighting, getting the right angles of a space and pay particular attention to detail. When potential buyers see the beautiful professional photos of your home, it will evoke an emotional response that will make them want to see it in person.

Price it Right

Now that you have an agent, use them to do a comparative market analysis (CMA) on your home to make sure you price your home correctly. This is so important. The price you set your home for will determine how many buyers you attract and how many offers you get. If you price your home too high, you will attract fewer buyers and your home may become stagnant on the market. When this happens, potential buyers will assume you are desperate to sell (which at that point most are) and will feel they have the upper hand in negotiating because you don’t have any other options. However, If you price your home at market value, you will attract a good amount of buyers, have lots of showings, and sometimes you will get multiple offers boosting the purchase price of your home causing it to sell above the asking price.