Selling your home? The real estate whiz provides key insights.
Selling your home is a big decision, and a lot of money will likely be at stake. The right approach to prepping your home for sale could net you thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. Real estate expert Jamell Tousant offers sage advice for maximizing your home’s value.
“If you’re working with an expert real estate agent, they can offer tips, of course,” He points out. “Still, even if you have a great agent, it’s smart to take some time to educate and advocate for yourself.”
Real estate agents will often work hard to maximize sales, especially since they earn higher commissions if they can secure a higher sale. Still, a lot of real estate agents are very busy. A proactive home seller can take some steps to prep their home for open houses and showings.
“Probably the most important single tip is to clean your home before open houses and showings. Often, real estate agents will spruce a home up, but they probably won’t have time to give your home a deep clean,” Jamell Tousant explains. “While cleaning, you should also declutter. When it comes to selling homes, a sparser, zen-like decoration philosophy is a wise idea.”
When decluttering, it’s best to depersonalize your home. You may not have to take down every family photo, but many lived-in homes are a bit cluttered with family mementos. It’s best to strike a more balanced approach when presenting your home to buyers. The home should be clean and orderly, but it’s often best to make it feel lived-in as well.
Vitally, decluttering a home can make it feel bigger. Space ranks among the most valuable home metrics, so you definitely want to make your house feel spacious. Mirrors, open windows, and skylights, among other things, can also make a house feel larger than it is.
Many homeowners don’t want to invest in a home that will be sold. But touching up your home here and there can pay off. Consider sprucing up the paint. You may even want to repaint the whole home, as new coats of paint can add a lot more value than the initial investment cost.
“Folks talk about slapping on a new coat of paint, and that’s a wise idea,” Jamell Tousant says. “Yes, repainting your home is a considerable investment, but it can do wonders for the sale value.”
Jamell Tousant Talks About Exterior Improvements
The first impression most prospective home buyers will get is a home’s exterior. And as they say, first impressions count. Many of the tips already mentioned regarding the home’s interior also hold true for the exterior. You’ll want to clean and declutter your outdoor spaces, especially the front yard. A new coat of exterior paint can work wonders too.
“Presentation, presentation, presentation. You want to present your home in its best light, which means making sure the exterior is spruced up, ” says Jamell Tousant.
Sound like a lot of work? It can be, but your efforts may pay off many times over.