As I write this, we have several inches of snow on the ground and temps are in the single digits: definitely not normal for Salisbury Maryland. The latest blast of climate change has given me extra time to write since it’s a bit of a challenge to gauge the condition of a snow covered roof for a Buyer client. Better days are ahead for that.  In the meantime, you good folks will be subjected to another round of desert dry wit, with possibly a shred or two (smaller than nuggets) of wisdom thrown in for good measure.

So Mr. or Mrs. Seller, you want to unload your humble abode this spring, if it ever gets here. Great! Perhaps I can help. I also know what you’re thinking. What’s qualifies a lowly Buyer’s Agent in Salisbury MD to give advice to a seller ANYWHERE?  Good question! If you take nothing else away from this, remember that what I say here means NOTHING if you don't price your home correctly.

One Buyer Agent's Resume'

For starters, I show hundreds of homes to Buyer clients a year. During that time, I keep detailed mental notes of what they say in my increasingly shiny noggin. (This business has a way of speeding up that process) The things that make them say “ooh!” and “ahhh!” along with “uggh” and “oh, boy” give your humble correspondent signals of what they like and dislike, especially when those comments are repeated by different buyers. (It’s so easy; a real estate licensee can do it.)

Next, a thorough understanding of buyer psychology can give you fresh perspective. I practically live with some of my clients for several weeks in their home search and encourage them to hold nothing back about my performance or their opinion of a home. That said, I live vicariously through them and my worst fear is they’ll purchase the wrong house and end up with a gut wrenching case of home buyer’s remorse. (That tends to be bad for business.)

Last, your agent, if they’re doing their job, may give you a lot of the same advice. After all, this stuff is pretty much common sense. I don’t know you like your agent knows you, meaning I won’t sugar coat things like they might out of fear of losing a sale. Hopefully, they won’t just tell you what you want to hear. Their motivation? Helping you sell your home and getting paid, of course. My motivation? I want to sell your home for a buyer also if it’s in the Salisbury MD real estate market. If it isn't, then all these great links back to my site will still help with SEO. Are you ready? Let’s get to the meat and potatoes of readying your home for sale this spring. (You’ll NEVER get tofu and bean sprouts from me.)

The Showing That Never Was

The showing of your home starts before the buyer steps in the door. In fact, It starts before they get out of the car. The two most important terms in real estate will always be “location” and “curb appeal.” I've had relocating clients tell me to move on after seeing and hating the yard of a home. Other local clients have passed on showings after driving by homes on their own time and seeing front yards in bad shape.

It doesn't have to look like a fairway at Augusta Country Club, but you’ll definitely sell your home sooner if the sticks and leaves are cleaned up and the grass recently mowed. While you’re at it, put down a bed of fresh mulch around plantings and get any debris off the roof. A power wash is never a bad idea. (Try selling a used car that you just drove through a mud bog.) “But MY home is beautiful inside!” We’ll get to that soon and find out for sure.

Remember what I said about buyer psychology?  If your pre-qualified, no home to sell, motivated buyer is thinking “The yard’s a dump, inside probably is too”, then it won’t matter what YOU think of the interior. If the buyer has a positive impression of a home’s curb appeal, they’ll always be more open-minded when considering the rest of the place.

Welcome Home

No part of a home’s exterior makes a statement like the front door. Have peeling paint or rotten trim on yours?  A well maintained entrance with a fresh coat of paint in a bold but tasteful color helps set a buyer’s mood. If the thing is shot, replace it before the home inspector tells you its shot. Polish the hardware. Have storm door? A buyer won’t find your kid’s cookie and juice laden hand prints cute at all. If there is any place to get rid of spider webs and wasp nests, this is it.

Lighten Up, Man

I hear it from buyers nearly every week: “bright” and “open” are nearly as important as “location” and “curb appeal” to them. First, the “bright.” Open curtains and blinds before a showing. If they are dark or belong in the Munster’s house, replace them. Clean the windows inside and out. This is HUGE for letting in the maximum amount of daylight in and makes the view of your well kept yard even better. (Curb appeal in reverse) Window screens block a lot of light. Remove them and place in storage. Make sure light fixtures have bulbs of proper wattage. Replace any burned out bulbs as well.

Today, many home buyers want an “open floor plan.” Does your place make you want to find the piece of cheese when you get to the far end? Put the sledgehammer away and fret not. Instead, get rid of any clutter that makes your home feel like an obstacle course. If a piece is in the way at all or slightly gaudy or tasteless, get rid of it or place in storage. You’ll probably come to the same conclusion when it’s your time to move so post the thing on Craigslist and make a few bucks while making more on the sale of your home at the same time. A fresh coat of paint in tasteful yet neutral colors goes a long way. For today’s buyer in many markets, it’s hard to offend them with white trim, neutral or earth tone walls and bright white ceilings. If black, magenta and baby diaper yellow is your thing, save it for YOUR new home.

Eeeww, That Smell

Wanting to learn to cook nose hair curling ethnic foods on Pinterest? Sell the house first. You have no idea how these odors linger like your unemployed brother in law because you live in it. On the other hand, Mr. and Mrs. Buyer have all their senses on full alert when looking at the possibility of 15 to 30 years of debt and don’t want to make a mistake. Potpourri? Overdone, overpowering and makes buyers wonder what smells you’re trying to cover up. Are you a smoker? You have two challenges- a shortened life span and turned off buyers. Consider taking your habit outside or at least do it in the garage. All that cleaning of windows and fresh paint won’t matter much if there is a yellow film on these surfaces after the fact. Shampoo the carpets and clean curtains as well to remove smoke odors as much as possible. If I had a dime for every time I've heard “Nice house but I can’t handle the smoke smell.” Smoker or not, it’s always a good idea to open some windows to air things out before a showing on good weather days. Just make sure to close them before you leave.

There you have it: to the point, rock solid advice on how to sell your home this spring for the most money in the least amount of time and without major expense.  Some toes may have been stepped on and talk is cheap, but at the same time money talks. Happy selling!

Questions, comments and feedback are welcomed below or on the Salisbury MD Real Estate blog.

Content Authored by Dale King