People in the real estate industry love to give advice. Some of it is good, others not so much. So, when it comes to putting your home on the market, you need to know how to tell the difference between fact and fiction. In this guide, we’ve identified a few popular myths in real estate, debunking each one to make your journey towards selling your home a smooth and easy process.
1. A Bathroom or Kitchen Remodel Is Necessary
This myth probably comes from how most buyers tend to care most about kitchens and bathrooms when shopping for homes. But if you think that renovating your kitchen and/or bathroom will guarantee a higher sale value, think again. Sure, a new kitchen or bathroom will get people’s attention, but as to whether they’re willing to pay a premium for it? That’s another story.
Instead, the safer thing to do, especially if you’re on a budget, is to invest in minor renovations to make it easier to sell your home at your asking price. Small things like new countertops, new appliances, and new lights won’t cost an arm and a leg, but are still enough to reel buyers in.
2. The Interior is the Most Important Part of the House
This is simply not the case, not when home buyers tend to make snap judgments based on how a home looks from the outside. Curb appeal is so important that many buyers will ignore properties whose exteriors leave a lot to be desired, which happens before they even enlist the services of a real estate agent.
So, whether you’re posting pictures of your home online or preparing it for a showing, work on your property’s curb appeal. Simple things like cutting the grass, trimming hedges, raking leaves, and painting the front door among others will make your home more sellable.
3. Staging is Optional
While a clean and tidy home is always a good thing, it pays to make your home presentable, which will help buyers imagine themselves living in it. This is where staging comes in.
Professional home stagers specialize in finding ways to highlight your home’s best features and make up for its weaknesses. For example, a home stager may recommend the right color of paint for the living room based on what most buyers in the neighborhood want. They may also recommend replacing furniture to make certain rooms look larger.
Of course, you don’t need to hire a pro to stage your home; YouTube alone offers a wealth of resources for aspiring home decorators.
4. The Seller Sets the Price of the Home
Your home’s fair market value, or the price that the seller and the buyer can agree on, is determined by current market conditions, its location, size, and condition among other things. Contrary to popular belief, how much you initially paid for the property isn’t necessarily what you will get when it’s time to sell it.
As you can see, selling a home is a lot more complicated than it looks. But there’s a simple alternative. You can always sell your home to a property investor like Blue Hen Homebuyers. We buy all kinds of homes, regardless of their age or condition. Call our offices today at 910-802-2222 to learn more about how we can help you.