Sellers Center

Considering selling your home?

Here are a few key tips to help you get the most out of your property!

Pricing Your Home


When selling your property, one of the most important and most difficult decisions to make is the listing price of the property. While you, the seller, want to sell for the best price possible, you also have to list the home at a fair market price, so that buyers will be attracted to the listing.

What are some things you should consider when setting a listing price?

  • What’s the age of your home?
  • What’s the condition of the home?
  • What prices are similar homes in the area selling for?
  • Are there a lot of homes for sale in your area?

The VS Team will help you determine the fair market value of your home AND obtain the BEST sales price for your home. By working with one of our experienced realtors, you will know that your home will receive the exposure needed to attract strong buyers and exceed your selling expectations!

Making Your Home Look Its Best

Eye appeal is buy appeal! Make sure your home looks its best when you are listing your property! Remember, buyers aren’t just going to give the house a quick look, but will be performing careful inspections of the property.

Here are some of our tips to make your home look its best inside and out!

“WOW” Factor

Make sure the outside of your house is in tip top shape, that is the viewer’s first impression. You need a “WOW” factor, that first visual, high-impact impression your home makes that could turn lookers into buyers. Think about what would make your home look like someone’s dream home. Here are a few tips to determine your property's curb appeal and if your home has that “WOW” factor:

Drive through the neighborhood and compare those houses to yours – how does your home look in comparison? Does it “wow” you?

What exterior improvements do you need?

  • Do the trees need trimming?
  • Do the gutters need to be painted?
  • Would planting some shrubs or flowers make the house look more welcoming?

When you figure out what needs to be fixed, JUST DO IT! ?

Paint

  • A fresh coat of paint on the interior and exterior of the home will go a long way!
  • Your home will instantly look newer, warmer, updated, and more beautiful.
  • Further, on the inside of a home, fresh paint cleans up your living space and makes the space seem bright and new
  • To make rooms look larger, choose light, neutral colors, such as beige.
  • Neutral colors will also make it easier for people to imagine the home as a canvas to make the home their own.
  • The value of your home will also instantly increase!
  • New paint will also make your home sell faster.

Yard

For many buyers, the front yard is one of the most important areas of the property to “keep up with the Joneses.” Grab people's attention by enhancing your yard and landscaping! If your house looks inviting and well-maintained from the street, people will imagine it's attractive on the inside, too.

  • Prune bushes and hedges; trim trees
  • Keep your lawn looking healthy and green
  • Maintain your gardens and plant colorful blooms
  • Repair and paint fences
  • Clean out birdbaths, ponds, and fountains

The Front Door

An attractive entry catches a buyer’s eye and welcomes the buyer to his potential new home.

  • Highlight the entry with decorative touch, e.g. a wreath on the door or shrubs and flowers around the steps
  • For a grander entry, clean and paint or replace your front door
  • This investment will increase the value of your property!
  • Fix and polish doorknobs
  • Repair torn screens
  • Put out a new welcome mat

Kitchen

The biggest return on the sale of your home is your kitchen! Make sure your kitchen is showroom-ready with these tips:

  • Clear your countertops and make sure there is no clutter on your countertops/in the sink
  • Polish or re-stain your cabinets
  • Make sure your kitchen floor is clean and uncluttered
  • If the appliances are not in great condition replace them (all matching neutral colors)
  • If the appliances are in great shape, make sure the appliances are all spotless and in good working condition

Bathrooms

Here are some helpful tips to make the bathrooms seem more updated in your home:

  • Replace the shower stall/tubs, or make sure that the bottom of the tub/shower and the backsplash or tile in the shower or behind the tub is spotless and looking like new
  • Replace the toilet
  • Keep the bathroom countertops clear and uncluttered
  • Be sure to clean the window and windowsill or air vent
  • Get a new bathroom mat or throw out the one you have and make sure the bathroom floor is clean

Clean Everything

Buyers expect a spotless house, inside and out. This makes an important impression on the buyer, because it shows that the home has been well-maintained and was a happy home.

On the inside of the house, make sure to clean everything, especially your windows and windowsills!

Cut the Clutter

People are turned off by rooms that look and feel cluttered. Remember, potential buyers are buying your house, not your furniture, so help them picture themselves and their possessions in your home by making your rooms feel large, light, and airy.

  • Pack away personal items, e.g. pictures, religious décor, valuables and collectibles
  • Store or donate surplus books, magazines, videotapes, extra furniture, rugs, blankets, etc.
  • Consider renting a storage unit to eliminate clutter in the garage, attic, or basement
  • Tidy up the garage and basement as much as possible

Simple little tasks such as storing your tools and neatly rolling up your garden hose suggest that you take good care of your house. Don't let anything detract from making your best first impression.

Closets

Every potential buyer wants closet space, so make sure your closets are clear! By storing clothing you won't use soon, you'll make closets look spacious and desirable.

Carpet

  • Consider replacing your carpet – this is an easy and affordable way to help your home sell quickly!
  • Light, neutral colors are best
    • If your carpet is still in good condition, have your carpets thoroughly cleaned before listing

Repairs and Renovations

Avoid making major renovations just to sell the house since you're unlikely to recoup those costs from the sales price, BUT

  • Make minor repairs to items such as leaky faucets, slow drains, torn screens, gutters, loose doorknobs, and broken windows
  • Make sure repairs are well-done; buyers won't take you seriously if your home-improvement efforts look messy, shoddy, or amateurish

Marketing Your Home

Make sure your realtor is not only trained in the financial and technical aspects of the real estate transaction but is highly trained in the marketing side of the business as well!

This is when your realtor becomes critical: You can count on the VS Team’s expert realtors to come up with a competitive and winning marketing strategy and campaign. We will utilize television, newspaper, internet, MLS, and social media marketing outlets to optimize outreach to potential buyers. Further, our team is ready to conduct many open houses and tours to maximize exposure of your property to interested potential buyers, including “window shoppers.”

An Offer

Now, you have just received an offer on your property. Now what?

As the seller, you will basically have the following three options:

  • Accept the offer;
  • Reject the offer; or
  • Counter the offer

What are the most important things to consider when reviewing an offer and how to respond?

  • A counter offer often encourages the buyer to continue negotiations.
  • Do you have multiple offers?
  • When would you like to close escrow? Do you want to close in less than 30 days? More than 30 days?
  • Contingencies, move-in dates, and financing are all variables to consider.

Count on the VS Team or one of its expert realtors to go over the offers and your goals and to help you decide how to best respond.

The Closing

Once you accept an offer, a number of details still need your attention before the property changes hands. Our goal is to make this process go as smoothly and efficiently as possible for you. The VS Team will be by your side to guide and advocate your interests as you go through the following processes involved during the closing period:

  • Buyer’s Inspections of the home
  • Buyer’s lender’s appraisal(s)
  • Preliminary title report/Liens check/Clearing title
  • Disclosures
  • Other Transaction, loan, and escrow processes

Free Reports for Sellers

  Common Myths About Working with Real Estate Agents
  Thinking About Buying Your First Home?
  A Smooth Home Purchase in Six Steps
  10 Things You Should Not Do When Buying a Home
  What is a Mortgage?
  Analyzing Your Debt to Income Ratio
  Are You Really Pre-Approved for a Mortgage?
  Minimizing Stress 
  Making an Offer
  Do You Really Need a Home Inspection?
  Your Role in the Home Inspection
  Services Providers