How to Sell a Home and Get the Best Return on Investment

In today's complicated realty market, selling a home and getting the best return on investment can be a major challenge, particularly if you're in a position in which you have to sell. Proper presentation as is covered by your realtor typically covers such things as removing personal items from view, keeping the interior clean, and ensuring that the landscape is properly cared for, even if you're not going to be on or near the property for the duration of the sale. It might, however, skip over the minor details that could significantly influence the offers you receive for the home. Preparing to sell a home, and then getting the best return on investment, involves much more than basic cleanup, particularly if you want to realize the best possible price for the home based on the value you have invested into it. It doesn't have to be an expensive process, though.

Selling a home and Cleaning House, How to sell a home

Preparing to sell a home involves looking at the property in the same way that potential buyers will look at it. Many times, a simple coat of paint can do wonders for the visual appeal of the property, and will significantly boost your offers. Before beginning extensive projects such as these, however, you'll want to start out small. Begin by thoroughly cleaning the exterior of the house. Check the gutters to make certain they aren't filled with leaves and other debris, and then apply new mulch to any gardens surrounding the home. Many times, siding on your home will appear dingy over time. This growth can be removed by simply renting a pressure washer and cleaning up the siding. Use care on painted siding, however, as pressure washers can easily strip paint. This tip is most effective on vinyl siding.

Clean all the home's windows next, making certain that you clean both the outside and the inside of the window. This will let more light into the interior of the home, visually brightening the interior. This additional light actually has the effect of making rooms seem slightly bigger than they really are. Dark, dingy rooms tend to exude a feeling of being cramped.

Now move to applying a fresh coat of paint to the trim work outside the home. Selling a home doesn't require this, but it does help the home put its best foot forward. Generally, porches and shutters are most in need of paint, even if you haven't noticed it, but don't forget to put fresh paint on the mailbox and its post, as well.

How to sell a home using Landscape to Influence Home Sale price

When your realtor tells you to keep up the landscaping, keep in mind what you would look for in a landscape. Because the home market is so depressed right now, with home values far lower than they were ten years ago, potential buyers are out looking for a deal, if not a steal. The landscape is the first thing they'll see when they pull up to view the house, and if it appears unkempt, that's another bargaining chip in their favor. Homes with poorly-kept landscape are typically kept by homeowners who no longer care for the property on an emotional level. They have, in buyers views, given up hope, and are thus more susceptible to low-ball offers. If the potential buyer sees a home that they like, and that they see the owner cares for, it gives the seller the appearance of a lack of desperation. The offers for homes that are not distressed will generally end up higher than offers for homes appearing to be on the brink of foreclosure. Avoiding this appearance can mean the difference to you between breaking even and losing a considerable piece of your investment.

Make repairs on any fences on the property, and do your best to get all the weeds out of your gardens. If your home has a wooded backyard, cut down any dead trees that impede the view of live trees. If you're selling during the fall, make sure to keep the lawn as clear of leaves as possible to show off the lawn itself. This helps to maintain the home's appearance. Edging the grass away from concrete patios, driveways and walks is also an important step.

Finally, apply fresh gravel to any gravel walkways that are on the property. You will find that weeds grow readily in gravel walks that have been well-worn, and this tends to make them look poorly cared for. A simple fresh layer of gravel will make a significant difference in the appearance of the home and the yard.

If you follow the tips that your realtor lays out, and prepare the home for sale to the condition that you would feel comfortable offering your asking price for, you'll be far more able to sell a home without taking too much of a loss, and help you get the best return on investment possible.

Sources:
Move.com: How-To Guide: Selling your House: www.move.com
HGTV.com: Landscaping Tips That Can Help Sell Your Home: www.hgtv.com