How do you improve your chances of selling your house? (2023)

What are the most important selling points of a house?

Neutral tones are perfect for selling homes. They give a potential buyer the opportunity to imagine themselves and their own tastes in the space. Neutral walls also feel calm and clean, both of which can help to drive a sale. Although buyers are always told to see past existing décor, most can't.

Factors that make a home unsellable "are the ones that cannot be changed: location, low ceilings, difficult floor plan that cannot be easily modified, poor architecture," Robin Kencel of The Robin Kencel Group at Compass in Connecticut, who sells homes between $500,000 and $28 million, told Business Insider.

The top five projects that add the most dollar value to a sale in 2022 are refinishing hardwood floors, installing new wood floors, upgrading insulation, converting a basement to a living area and renovating closets, according to a joint report by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the National Association ...

The lack of control, especially around time and money, creates the most anxiety for sellers. At the top of the list, according to Zillow, is not knowing whether the home will sell when the owners want it to, cited by 56 percent of those surveyed as stressful.

While making the highest offer is still the best way to command a seller's attention, it isn't the only way to get noticed. By showing financial stability, waiving contingencies (when it's worth the risk) and being flexible with your timeline, you can make an offer that stands out.

You can hire an estate sale company to sell your stuff all at once. Estate sale companies will send someone out to review the contents and let you know if it makes sense and is worth hosting a sale. If you want to move forward, the company may hold the sale at your house or at their location.

What month of the year do most houses sell?

Sellers can net thousands of dollars more if they sell during the peak months of May, June, and July versus the two slowest months of the year, October and December, according to a 2022 report by ATTOM Data Solutions.

Late spring and early summer are the best times of year to sell a home, according to a May 2021 report from real estate research firm ATTOM Data Solutions.

Low Price Point. With the homeownership rate nationally approaching a 50-year low, home buyers are becoming more prudent. Houses listed between $200,000 and $250,000 sold in about 83 days, faster than those in any other price range. That's compared to 133 days for homes priced between $2 million and $5 million.

The most common reason a property fails to sell is an unreasonable asking price by the seller. An asking price that's too high is the surest way to increase your days on market and have a "non-starter" listing that buyers simply ignore.

Fixing cosmetic damage

Sure, peeling paint, a weathered back door and scuffed floors may make things look a little run-down, but if you are looking to save some cash on repairs and renovations, you'll rather want the money to be put to good use.

Your property value is often out of your control. Changes in the real estate market can lower the value of your home. Natural disasters and climate change can lower your property value because the property is a greater risk to purchase. Foreclosures in your neighborhood can also drive down property value.

Increase your home's value

Both interior and exterior painting are projects with a significant return-on-investment (ROI). On average nationally, painting both the inside and outside of your home yields a $4,000+ value bump. That's a 107% ROI for interior painting and a 55% ROI for exterior painting.

What rooms add value to a house?

The two rooms that benefit most from even small renovations are the kitchen and bathroom. One cost-effective change — like replacing an outdated vanity, old plumbing and lighting fixtures or adding a new tile floor — will guarantee a lot of bang for your buck and give your bath an updated, modern look.

Key Takeaways. Remodeling can boost the return on investment (ROI) of a house. Wood decks, window replacement, and kitchen and bathroom upgrades tend to generate the highest ROIs. For cost recovery, remodeling projects generally must fix a design or structural flaw to earn back the cost of construction.

At the top of the list, according to Market Watch, are ranch-style homes. As Americans age, many are preferring the ranch-style home because it is built all on one level.

Take the time to say goodbye.

Take the time to reminisce with your family about the memories you've made there. Walk through each room and take a “last look”. Take pictures before you start changing it for the market. All of this will help you process your emotions and get ready to say farewell.

This can happen for a variety of reasons, but the simple answer is “no.” In real estate transactions, the seller can choose the offer they want and there is no obligation to accept the offer with the highest price. In fact, the seller is not obligated to accept any offer.

The key to winning a best and final offer is to present yourself in the best position to match the future plans of the seller, meaning that buyers should try to establish a seller's motivations for selling.

How clean should a house be when selling?

Generally, cleaning inside the property should include cleaning windows, wiping down surfaces and cupboards, wiping skirting boards, cleaning bathrooms and toilets and hoovering throughout. The garden, sheds and garages should all be swept and any windows cleaned. Leaving a clean fridge and oven is a very important.

Thousands of sellers have been in the exact position you are in right now and the first question they always have is: “Will this house sell for less because it is empty.” The short answer is yes, empty houses do take longer to sell than furnished, occupied or staged homes.

House price growth has been ongoing during the pandemic, and it shows no signs of slowing anytime soon. For this reason, 2022 could be a great time to sell your home. In fact, it may be wise to sell before house prices inevitably drop, interest rates rise or buyer demand wanes.

Although the average number of days a house sits on the market is 22 days, that doesn't factor in the time it takes to prepare the home for sale and everything that needs to be done after the offer is accepted.

Lowest Home Prices Are Typically in January

Median sales prices are more affordable between October and February compared to other months of the year. For example, January 2021 had sales prices listed at $329,242, which peaked at $385,546 in June 2021.

Many buyers now look at the lower maintenance costs and the location of the home as far more valuable than the size metric. This, in turn, allows owners of smaller homes to be more competitive than their larger neighbors, especially when selling to investors.

What should you not fix before selling your house?

Renovations before selling are all about following the crowd, playing it safe, not overspending and never allowing your personal tastes to dominate. It is about giving your buying audience what they want. Local real estate agents can give you a good insight into what are popular features for buyers in your area.

One of the top factors in a quick sale is price. Your property needs to be priced correctly; however, this can often be difficult to determine. You may have an ideal price in mind but make sure this is in line with the price of similar properties in the area, so you don't inadvertently push potential buyers away.

Fall 2022 and beyond could be a great time for sellers, or more of a market equilibrium may develop. Rather than trying to play the market, consider the cards you currently have in your hand: you know now is a good time to sell because competition is high and inventory is low.

Many real estate contracts require sellers to leave a home in “broom-clean condition.” That means that sellers should sweep up after themselves, clear out closets, shelves and cabinets, take everything out of the refrigerator, throw out all the garbage and leave the home presentable.

Boost your curb appeal

The yard and exterior of your home are the first things that potential buyers will see in person, and enhancing its curb appeal will grab their attention. Cleaning and tidying your yard, repainting if necessary and upgrading outdoor fixtures can all make your home more attractive to buyers.

As a REALTOR® might tell you, in order to make up for closing costs, real estate agent fees, and mortgage interest, you should plan to stay in a property for at least 5 years before you sell your home.

But how much should you spend? Well, there's no limit to the amount of elbow grease you can put in while your home's on the market. And you will put in a lot! But as far as finances, plan to budget one to three percent of your asking price for staging [source: Tracey].

Sellers can net thousands of dollars more if they sell during the peak months of May, June, and July versus the two slowest months of the year, October and December, according to a 2022 report by ATTOM Data Solutions.