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Selling your home can be super stressful regardless of it being in a buyer’s or seller’s market. “To sell a home quickly, it needs to show well, be marketed well, and priced correctly”, according to Goran Forss, broker at Allison James Estates & Homes located in Temecula, CA. Preferably, when putting your house on the market, you will want that puppy sold ASAP…. And these tips and tricks will help you get closer to accomplishing that goal!

FIRST THINGS FIRST...

1. Rent a storage unit while putting house on the market

• Decluttering your home can be done in two ways… either shoving everything ‘clutter’ worthy into cabinets, under beds, behind couches, OR you can simply rent a storage unit to put everything in so you don’t have to even worry about it. We highly recommend this route because it will also force you to get rid of things you don’t need or use. (Holiday decor, seasonal items, baby clothes, that new mini fridge that just sits in the corner with nothing in it). ALSO, if you choose a portable unit, that will make moving that much easier in the long run. 

2. Hire professional real estate agents that DO IT ALL

• There aren’t many real estate companies that have more than 50 years of combined experience with buying, selling, leasing, property management, home staging AND connections to the best professional photography & home care. The first impression buyers get from your home are the listing photos & curb appeal. We know how to make those look fabulous. Many people don’t have the money to pay for staging however, so an alternate route to take on that is having a friend or relative walking through with fresh eyes to offer some opinions on moving things around, & setting areas up to look bright & inviting. The goal is to first draw the buyer in, then make it not only desirable for them to live there, but possible for them to imagine themselves in it. That is done by….

3. Decluttering & de-personalizing your home

• A key to helping buyers be able to desire & imagine themselves living in your home is to firstly remove personalized items. This will also help draw the buyers attention to unique features of the house.. like the stone fireplace, or the skylights in the kitchen. Having too much going on interferes with the natural beauty of the home. Just always think..”how could I make this look more bright & inviting?” 

4. Make small upgrades to your home

• It isn’t necessary to go over-board on major remodels. In most cases, you probably won’t get your money back. Instead, focus on the smaller upgrades, preferably in the kitchen & bathrooms. For example- new light fixtures, new sink/cabinet hardware in kitchen, new shower curtains & hand towels in bathroom. All of these small improvements are more on the inexpensive side but can really help persuade the buyers to fall in love with the spaces. Remember - small upgrades can have a huge impact!

5. Brighten IT UP!

• Let’s be real… majority of people want a home that is bright, has spacious rooms, & looks clean. Start by increasing the use of natural & artificial light - that alone can help with brightening the mood. If you have many rooms without windows, try putting more lamps in corners or on tables using the highest wattage lightbulb you can find & that will definitely do the trick. Also, a fresh coat of paint, mirrors, and a simple deep cleaning can really help accentuate spaces. Try to stick with neutral paint palettes unless you are painting a wall as a focal point and want it to pop. Great colors would be anything providing a soft & bright feel, like beige or light grays. 

6. Amp up that curb appeal

• When someone drives by your house, can they even see it? Are there trees blocking the house? Is the paint color worn or does your driveway need pressure washing? These are all things to consider when thinking of the curb appeal. Remember that the outside of the house is what people see first… it’s like going on your first date and dressing up with your most dressy outfit and using your nicest cologne or perfume.. go big or go home baby. In order to draw people in, you really want the exteriors to look clean and inviting. Easily transform your front yard by clipping/trimming shrubs and bushes, trimming tree branches, adding a fresh coat of paint to the front door or shutters, and even pressure-washing the sidewalk & driveway. Everything matters! Even things as small as the door handle or numbers to your house.. polish them up… clear cobwebs & bird droppings… add some flowers! We know it’s easier said than done, but just remember, the better it looks on the outside the more people are going to want to see the inside!

7. Sell your house at the right time

• Selling your house, picking a price and also making sure it’s in tip top shape can be overwhelming. That is why real estate companies like ours are here to help! Trust someone with the right qualifications and experience and that knows how to read the housing market in order to properly list your home.

Hope our advice helps! 

Check out these before & after pictures of our newest listing 'for sale'... they really prove the above to be true, don't they?! ;)