Top 10 Tips for Selling Your Home in Grand Rapids

If you’re considering putting up your home for sale in Grand Rapids, here are ten tips to help you on your way before the home even hits the market:

1. Know your Finances- Because of the market, your home may not be worth what it used to be.  If you haven’t owned your home for very long or are struggling to make payments, short sales may be a strong alternative to consider. Be upfront when meeting with Realtors about your expectations and about your net gain after costs to avoid issues after it’s been listed.
2. Consider Staging- According to Julie Stone, Accredited Staging Professional, 94.8% of staged homes sell in 37 days or less on average. Sometimes having an outside eye take a look at your home and add accents can make the difference between getting it sold and having it sit on the market for months.
3. Deep Clean- Pull out the rubber gloves, bleach and brush and get to work throughout your entire home to remove soap scum, spots and smells. There may be dirt and dust that you may not notice since you see it every day, but a potential buyer might when walking through for the very first time.
4. Don’t Forget Curb Appeal-While you can’t judge a book by it’s cover, many buyers will judge a home by its exterior. Cleaning up the outside of your home by dedicating a few hours to raking up leaves, clipping back a few plants and trimming the edges of the driveway and sidewalk make a big difference-especially when you’re first walking up to the front door.
5. De-clutter- Any little odds and ends should be put away, out of view yet still organized, not just shoved in a closet. Clear off the fridge of magnets and papers and keep counters clear of anything other than kitchen gear. And be sure kids and pets keep their areas clear of toys too!
6. Patchwork- Grab some joint compound, sandpaper and  joint knife and get to work on filling in all those small dings, dents, cracks and chips on your interior walls.
7. Fresh Paint-Once your drywall work is done, it’s time to apply some fresh paint. Besides priming and painting over where you patched, painting in other rooms can make a big difference in appearance. Changing a darker room into a lighter room will make it appear a lot larger, and having paint instead of wallpaper makes a home a lot more appealing.
8. Fixtures- Brushed nickel, copper and steel fixtures have become the new “look” for fixtures. Consider updating if you have shiny gold or silver in your kitchen, bathroom.  Don’t forget-doorknobs can also start to look grungy and old, but add a new doorknobs and see the difference!
9. Contain Pets-Have a plan for when a tour is scheduled. Whether you have the neighbors take the pets, you contain them in the garage or a crate, or you take them with you when you leave the home, be sure that you take in consideration what’s best for your pets and buyers. Will Fido barking in his cage drastically take away from Mr. and Mrs. Jones walking through your home? Think of all the options and do what’s best for all parties involved.
10. Talk to a Realtor (or two, or three)- Just because your mom’s friend’s son is a Realtor, or your neighbor’s house sold in two weeks with their Realtor, does that mean you should use them? Probably not. Who to use as  a Realtor is a very important decision. Meeting with more than one is a good idea because you can get a feeling for who offers what when it comes to listing your house. Besides feeling comfortable with the Realtor, you should also ask about their marketing plan and strategies. Ask about their experience in your area and the market in general. Check out some of their other listings online before signing. Just because you know a Realtor as a person doesn’t mean they’re the right Realtor to sell your home.