Guide to Selling Your Denver Home

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Before your Denver home goes on the market, consider these improvements:

Make any minor repairs that need doing such as oiling up squeaky hinges, or fixing leaky faucets.
Nothing livens up a house like a new coat of paint.
Take a picture of your home. Particularly if you are selling your home in winter, a summer photo can help buyers see your home when it's at its most appealing -with all of its gardens in full bloom.
Work on your home's curb appeal. Tidy your landscaping and make sure that the yard is free of dying plants and debris.
Clean everything! This means giving every area in the home a good scrub, as well as keeping on top of daily clutter.
If you have too much furniture, consider putting some of it in storage.
Replace the carpets if they are hopelessly stained. Try steam cleaning them first though, as replacing carpeting can be pricey and relatively time consuming.

Prepare for Showings:

Make your home bright and airy. Put high-wattage bulbs in all light fixtures and turn on all the lights even if it's daytime. Open all the drapes; raise all the shades.
Secure all your valuables and prescriptions: Your agent will be present during showings, but this is no guarantee that your things will remain untouched.
Take your pets with you, and leave for the day.

Buyer Psychology 101

The typical home buyer is putting all of their savings into the down payment. They don't have anything left over for improvements until they've built up some additional savings again. This means that in general, if a buyer is choosing between two homes similar in price, they will choose the one in better condition-the one that is most ready to move into without alteration. Likewise, given the choice between two comparable homes in similar condition, they'll choose the cheaper one.

That's why it often pays off to paint, install new carpet, or perform repairs before putting your house on the market. The house that is move-in ready is the one that sells.

Selling your home is about selling a lifestyle. From the moment they see your home from the street, buyers are visualizing what life would be like in this setting. Beyond the functional basics, they're deciding if this house fits with the way they think of themselves, and the way they envision their futures. So, how can you give your home an appealing image?

Even though all your personal belongings and decor will be gone when the house is sold, your stuff is helping to sell the house. There is a reason why show homes in new housing developments are furnished. The furniture suggests a particular lifestyle. Think about the image your house might be projecting and see if you can play it up. What's the message? "A loving family would fit in this home," or "An artistic couple would suit this home."

Selling Your Denver Home

The Right Price: Getting the best return on your Denver home investment

Setting the price for your home can be tricky for a number of reasons. First of all it is your home and it can sometimes be difficult to be objective about the charms and drawbacks of your own house. After all, you have an intimate relationship with it. Your home is also an important financial investment and you want to maximize your return. You've got to navigate between two risks: overpricing your home, thereby missing the critical initial market period, and losing money by under pricing your home. Fortunately, an experienced and savvy real estate agent, like those at PorchLight, can help you select the best price for your home.

Why is overpricing a risk?

You watched a house down the street go for a ton of money. You know your house is a gem. You want to make the most you can on the sale. So why not aim high and figure that the right buyer will come along eventually and snatch it up? Because time is not on your side when selling a home. An overpriced home will sit on the market longer; the more overpriced, the more days on the market.

The problem is that a home that has just been put on the market has a special buzz that you can never recreate, even by lowering your price later on. Your home will receive the most attention from brokers and buyers when it first comes on the market. You will have the most showings during this time (assuming you've set the price appropriately). The buzz is at full volume, and a competitively priced home is most likely to be sold during this peak of activity.

So what is the right price?

The truth is, you aren't setting the price for your home -buyers are. After all, you're setting a realistic price in order to attract buyers' attention. You do this by looking at the current asking prices for comparable properties in the area, as well as by finding out what the final selling price has been on recent sales in your area.

These factors are all impacted by national market conditions, current interest rates, the availability of financing, and the state of the economy. There are also shifts in demand associated with the time of year when you are selling your home. A competitive market analysis will give you a solid foundation for the realistic pricing of your property, thereby putting you in tune with buyers.

What other factors go into setting the price?

In addition to the above variables, you'll need to take into account such factors as the competition, the physical characteristics of your home, and your own needs as a seller. For example:

Competition: Are there many homes similar to yours available right now and what condition are they in? How long have they been on the market?
Physical characteristics of your home: The location, age and physical condition of your home are all pivotal factors. The size of the house and plot of land, the floor plan, and the architectural style will also play key roles.
Your needs: The price you paid for your home and your cash needs from the sale are important factors in setting price, as is your level of motivation or urgency to complete the sale.

The key to setting a price for your home is realism. If you think like a buyer in evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of your home, you can work with your Denver REALTOR® to strike the right balance. At PorchLight, we can help you set the perfect price for your home, and make the sale!