Selling your own home can be challenging, especially in today’s real estate marketplace. However, with a few FSBO tips on how to present your home to the best of its ability, you can overcome some obstacles and beat out your competition! If you are getting showings and foot traffic through your home, it’s a great indicator that you have set the price and marketed the home properly - now you need to ensure your home shows well - after all, these are very interest leads and you don’t want the small things getting in the way of a possible offer!
Your objective here is to make your home as attractive as possible - preferably before any traffic arrives. The following techniques are proven methods that I have recommended to sellers over the last few years. These ideas will leave a positive impression with people coming through your home.
These are the main reasons for them to become uninterested in a property. So take this seriously!
Make sure your home is clean - ultra clean. Hire a maid service if need be. Wash and wax flooring, clean the carpets, wash the windows and blinds (if applicable), make sure the lighting fixtures are clean, and do a dusting once-over. You want to eliminate all odors as well, if possible.
Clean and eliminate clutter in the kitchen and baths. Organize shelves and drawers, especially in the kitchen! Yes, people tend to look inside your cabinets and drawers for two reasons. They tend to be nosy, but ultimately they want to make sure everything is in working order. So be sure to remember to tighten the hardware or get it replaced if it looks old and beat up.
Remember to sanitize everything - especially the refrigerator. Make sure this is organized as well! For whatever reason potential buyers always look to see what is for dinner, so make sure your fridge is clean and well-kept. I bet you never would have guessed that cleaning your fridge would be one of the important FSBO tips!
The kitchen and bathrooms are the most important area of the home and you want to make sure they are looking and smelling their best!
Make sure the beds are made in all the bedrooms. Closets should be de-cluttered and organized. A neatly kept closet makes it look larger to the naked eye, so be sure there is no dirty clothes on the floor.
As far as furniture is concerned - less is actually more. Less furniture makes any room look larger, but don’t go too far out of your way to get rid of items that you like or need. Think of rearranging furniture only if it makes sense. If by rearranging the room it becomes a bit more ‘neutral’ or appears larger, you may want to keep it this way while your home is on the market.
Make sure that all of the little repairs that you may have been putting off for so long are complete. This may not be the first priority on your to-do list, but even the smallest things make a buyer question the value - so you want to make sure home is as maintenance-free as possible before traffic comes through.
Worst-case scenario, hire a handy man. This will go a long way if your home is in tip-top condition as buyers are less likely to ‘nickel and dime’ you when it comes time to write you an offer.
Make sure to keep lights on in darker rooms that do not have too much natural light. Also be sure to open blinds and get as much lighting as you can - even in the bedrooms. This is usually not one of the more popular FSBO tips out there today - but it makes a big difference. A brightly lit home - especially a brightly lit bedroom - will make it appear larger than it really is.
If you have pets, don’t introduce them to potential buyers. Keep your pet in a crate while the showing is taking place and locate the crate in a non-threatening area of your home.
Lastly, make sure the garage is kept clean and organized. Get rid of clutter here as well. Clean off the floors as best as possible, and always keep the lights on in the garage during the showings. A garage that smells somewhat decent (not like oil or exhaust) will be viewed as part of the home instead of simply a place, attached or detached, to put cars.
This is a great start to making your home show really well! Every home is different, and most sellers know what needs to still be done or be fixed prior to having multiple interested parties come through. These FSBO tips will go a long way if followed closely - and feel free to add to this as appropriate. The more you do to make your home look and feel warm, cozy, and comfortable during the showings, the better chance you have at getting a quick offer. Many times these small details are simply overlooked - but don’t let this happen to you. Make it easy for a potential buyer to picture their life in your home!
