Page 61 - February 2017

Get the most money for your home
When it comes to selling your home, loca- tion and property value aren’t the only factors in getting a great price. Here are six strategies to consider that will help you attract more and higher offers.
they stand to make more money by offering the home For Sale By Owner (FSBO). While it’s true that they don’t have to pay the broker’s commission, they also lose many advantages that come with having a talented seller’s advocate on their side. FSBO sellers won’t have the marketing apparatus and network that a broker can deliver, meaning that their listing has less exposure to the market. They will find them- selves putting more time and effort into coordinat- ing their sale and handling the dozens of legal and fi- nancial particulars of the transaction. They will also lack skilled negotiation expertise and constant support that a realtor provides. Working with a great broker — one who keeps track of the market constantly and leverages tech- nology to find you the best buyers — is more likely to get
you the offer you deserve on your home.
Selling your home is a big and complex decision. Fol-
lowing a smart strategy and choosing a realtor you can trust will keep you from leaving money on the table.
Lisa Sanders has been selling real estate for more than a decade, averaging at least 50 homes per year. Her awards include Chicago Association of Realtors Top 1 Percent Pro- ducer, Five Star Professional Award for exceptional client service and No. 1 Realtor in several Chicago neighborhoods.
Invest in home staging
There’s much more to home stag- ing than simply arranging the furni- ture, which is why it’s worth it to hire a
Real Estate
LISA SANDERS
professional. In addition to devising the layout that maximizes the charm of your home interiors, a skilled stager will set the lighting and temperature to make po- tential buyers more comfortable. They also take a look at smaller details, such as shelf items, and carefully curate the home to draw a buyer’s eye toward its most attractive features.
Aim for curb appeal
Many buyers start making decisions about whether to buy — and how much to offer — before they even pass the threshold of the front door. “Curb appeal” describes the impression that your home makes when a buyer sees it from the street. Add some colorful flowers near the entrance, touch up any faded paint and keep your lawn looking well-maintained.
Take your personality out of the property
Shifting your house into selling mode means making it look and feel less like the home you’ve lived in and more like a home that somebody could make their own. If you’re considering repainting rooms, aim for neutral tones. De- clutter the home — put extraneous items into storage so that buyers can see how much room they would have to work with if they purchased. If you have pets, be diligent about hair and odor, and be ready to have them boarded elsewhere during open houses and showings. Anything you can do that provides buyers with room for their own vision will lead to more quality offers.
Sell your kitchen
One of the spaces where people spend the most time is the kitchen, and one that is breathtaking can often do more to sway a buyer’s mind than any other room in the house. The aesthetics and features may serve to influence perceptions of the property as a whole, so it’s in your in- terests as a seller to make this one of the centerpieces of your home. If your appliances are a little out of date, con- sider investing in stainless steel. This upgrade will help your home stand out from the competition.
Quick Fixes
Maintenance issues within your property can lead to lower initial offers or concessions at the negotiation ta- ble. Before your home is listed, take time to check off items that you may have been meaning to handle. Little adjustments take less effort and money, and they tend to yield greater returns than larger renovations undertaken right before you put the home on the market.
And most importantly ... Find the right broker
A common misperception among home sellers is that
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ FEBRUARY 2017 61