There are lots of great home deals right now. But if you’re not a first-time buyer, then you’ll need to sell the house you’re in first and that’s not easy in this market. You have to be smart, and you have to get creative. Here are some tricks to help make that “sold” sign go up faster.
Host a 24/7 open house. You heard us. Make your house available to potential buyers any time of the day or night—on the Internet. That’s where 84% of people start their home search. If you don’t know how to build a website, ask a tech-savvy friend (or any adolescent). (Some Realtors offer this service, so negotiate for it.) Create a virtual tour with photos or video. Advertise the URL on sites such as Craigslist.org or even a local billboard.
Sell it like an infomercial. Infomercials are irresistible because the pitchpeople are always throwing in extras. Do the same with your house. Throw in a $500 gift card from Home Depot, a flower-of-the-month club subscription, closing costs, or points on the mortgage—but only, of course, if you buy now!
Get it inspected. Ask your Realtor to recommend a reputable home-inspection service. For a few hundred dollars, these guys will examine your home like a dermatologist hunting carcinomas. If anything major needs fixing, do it. If not, then you can boast a clean bill of health. Either way, you win.
Move out early. It’s tough for potential buyers to see themselves in your home when all your stuff is there. So rent a self-storage unit or ask Nana to use her garage and clear out what you can in order to open up those closets and basement. Oh, and have hubby take down the elk head.
Put on a fresh coat. Nothing freshens a home more than a new paint job. But stick with whites and neutrals.
Hang a new shower curtain. It’s the simplest way to brighten up a bathroom.
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