Kingwood is a unique community with many subdivisions, several schools and it’s a great location. If a buyer is wanting their children to go to Kingwood High School, there are several subdivisions in which they can choose a home to make that happen. The competition could be bigger than just your own neighborhood. Let’s face it, there’s a lot of factoring going on with buyers when it’s time to choose a home. They look for features such as square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, kitchen and storage space, garage space, neighborhoods and schools, and of course, the cost. A buyer may be able to deal with a 3 bedroom instead of a 4 bedroom if he or she falls in love with the kitchen because it has nice stainless steel appliances and a huge pantry. Another scenario could be a buyer is in love with all the features, but the home has a bad pet odor forcing the buyer to purchase a home on the next street. The biggest mistake a seller can make is not getting the home in the best possible condition it can be. Make sure the home looks spacious, clean, updated and no pet or smoke odor. Here are some tips to get buyers interested when selling your Kingwood home.
- Find the right realtor®. Make sure you find a realtor® that knows the Kingwood market area and the neighborhood comparables. Find one that has many tools to market your home. Listen to their recommendations.
- Get real about pricing. Understand that buyers know about the comparable sales in the area. Find out what your home is worth and to make it competitive, try and go 10-15% below that to set your home’s list price. Yes, you updated the kitchen and bathrooms and it looks beautiful. However, so did your neighbors across the street. They sold their similar home last week for $229k. Not a good idea to list yours for $350k. Buyers are still looking for a good deal and this will be one way to get more visits from them.
- Always be ready to show. This is a 2-part tip: Your home must be ready to show at all times AND you must allow it to be shown. While your home is on the market, keep the place tidy and let the home be accessible when buyers are ready to see it.
- De-clutter. Pack up anything that is on the countertops and tables. Buyers will look in the pantry and closets. Clean and organize them to show buyers how much storage they will have. Think about renting a storage facility for your extra furniture and boxes. Don’t throw everything in the garage. That’s another room that buyers like to look at.
- No need to over-upgrade. Don’t over-upgrade because you probably won’t get your money back. However, do these to get top dollar for your home:
- fresh coat of paint throughout
- fix the nail holes in the wall
- change outdated kitchen cabinet hardware
- change outdated bathroom hardware
- replace door handles
- replace electrical outlets (especially if they are painted)
- clean tile grout
- definitely upgrade kitchen appliances
- replace carpet or professionally clean
- fix any minor nicks and scratches
- Lock up medications and valuables. You never know who may be coming to an open house or viewing your home. Make sure these items are locked in a safe place.
- De-personalize. Box up those family photos and memorabilia. This is one of the most important things to do when selling your home. The more personal items in your house, the less potential buyers can imagine themselves living there.
- Not everybody is a pet lover. Keep the pets caged when you have a showing. Pick up the food bowls and clean and hide the litter box. If you are planning an open house, consider taking your pets to a neighbor or a pet hotel.
- Make your home bright. Buyers want good light in their home. Take down the drapes, clean the windows and make sure all the light bulbs work.
- Leave something of value. What can distinguish your home from any other Kingwood home may be something personal left behind such as the stainless steel refrigerator, washer and dryer, HDTV, hot tub, or even a golf cart.
