subject: How to Get Top Dollar For Your Huntington Beach Home [print this page] How to Get Top Dollar For Your Huntington Beach Home
Make A Good Impression
In all sales, making a good first impression is very important. In real estate sales in particular, good impressions are often made when prospective buyers first see a photograph of your home on the Internet. In person, prospective buyers may drive through your neighborhood before they actually see the front of your house. You cannot control the neighborhood but you can control the appearance of your home from the outside. This is often referred to as Curb Appeal. The inside of your home must also make a good impression as well as the back yard, if you have one.
Curb Appeal
A home's first impression is made as prospective buyers take in the condition of the landscaping, the paint, the windows and even the front door. To insure that your home makes an excellent first impression, make sure that shrubs are well maintained, trees are trimmed, flowers are in bloom, hoses are put away, the lawn is well maintained and weeds are nowhere to be seen. Then look at the outside condition of the home. When was it last painted? Is paint chipping on wooden surfaces? Are screens clean and well maintained? You want prospective buyers to feel that they would be proud to call this house their home.
Interior Charm
The inside of the home must be as appealing as the outside. Clutter in any room is a distraction but especially in the kitchen. Clutter seems to scream out that this house is not big enough. You do not want to give that impression. Dirt in the form of messy sinks, handprints on the walls or cupboards, or stains on the floors gives a negative impression and if you want top dollar for your Huntington Beach home you want to avoid negative impressions at all costs. It may be cheaper to hire a cleaner and to store some possessions for the duration of your listing to avoid dirt and clutter than it is to end up taking a lower price for your home because prospective buyers often turn those negatives into lower offers.
Backyard Basics
Just as the inside and front of your house need to be in tip top shape, so does the back yard. Families with children and backyards full of toys may have extra work to keep things looking neat but it is worth the effort. If you have a pool, make sure it is in good condition and clean. Is the fence decaying and falling down? Prospective buyers will take that into consideration when making an offer on your house.
What Is Your Best Approach?
If your home needs work, start by finding out how much it would cost you to bring it up to top standards. Then check with your Realtor to find out what kind of price you might expect if the home is in tip top shape and what you can expect if you sell it "as is." Then, let the figures guide your decision.
