How to Meet Buyer Expectations for Your Home

If you want to sell your home quickly and for a good price, you need to meet buyer expectations. To do that, it is essential to understand what today’s buyers are looking for. 

Here is a quick guide to preparing your home for a conventional sale.

Stage Your Home

When you sell something, you want to put it in the best light possible so that it is desirable to prospective buyers. Selling your home is no different. Part of putting your home in the best light includes staging it properly. Staging your home simply means that you show your home at its very best. The basic principles of staging are to declutter, depersonalize, and clean. 

As you stage your home, remove any clutter that has collected over the years. This could be excessive knickknacks and other decorations or just the stuff that tends to accumulate in a home. Depersonalize by removing highly personal art, especially if it could be offensive to certain buyers. Finally, give every surface of your home a good scrub down. 

Make Repairs

Traditional buyers usually expect the home to be their primary residence. This means that they will most likely expect the home to be move-in ready. Most traditional buyers don’t want to live in a construction zone for their first few months of occupancy. 

If you choose not to take care of repairs, keep in mind that you will have to disclose anything in disrepair that you know of. Any major issues should be either addressed or reduced from the asking price of the home. 

Provide Basic Updates

Today’s buyers are notoriously picky. They don’t just want a structurally sound home; they want a home with all the modern fixtures. If your resources are limited and you’re wondering where you can get the most bang for your buck, start in the kitchen. Stone countertops such as granite or quartz are in high demand, as are modern appliances. Cupboards, flooring, and lighting are also areas of high impact. If you can’t afford major renovations, at least update your light and plumbing fixtures, cabinet handles and knobs, and splash on a quick coat of paint in a neutral color. 

To get the best deal possible on your home you will need to show it off at its very best. Of course, don’t forget that the exterior matters, too. Curb appeal is a huge part of attracting potential buyers. Draw people in from their first look with clean windows and siding, an attractive door, a well-manicured lawn, and an assortment of bright flowers. 

Did you enjoy reading this article? Here’s more to read. Why Buying an Older Home Can Be a Plus

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