10 Secrets For Home Sellers

Christian Di Stasio • Mar 26, 2020

10 Secrets For Home Sellers

Thinking about selling your home? Is your home currently listed and you’re not seeing results? Following these 10 simple tips that will guarantee your home will be in demand and sell for top dollar quickly.

1. The Listing Price 


The absolute #1, most important item when selling any piece of property is, Your Listing Price. I cannot stress this enough. Many sellers are emotionally attached to their homes, its normal. They've raised families, started families and/or have a ton of sweat equity in their homes. Selling a home can be as difficult or as easy as you want to make it. A good seller keeps things in perspective and sets their emotional attachments aside. 



Your list price should be benchmarked by recently sold homes. Your final set Listing Price should then taking into account the homes finishes and amenities. While some sellers (and some realtors) think pricing their property with a $10,000 - $20,000 buffer will “allow for negotiations”, it's actually allowing your home to have little appeal and low demand. Whats effective and drives demand is the exact opposite. While many sellers are hesitant to price their property below market value, it is perhaps the single best strategy when trying to sell a home. Buyers today are researching the towns and homes they're interested in 6 - 12 months before going to an open house or working with a Realtor. They're educated and know exactly what they're looking for, how much their ideal home lists and sells for. The key here is to attract as many buyers as possible. 



For example, if a buyer in Paramus NJ knows an updated Center Hall Colonial with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, 2 car garage goes for $750,000 and sees one listed in that same condition for $725,000. The first thing they're doing is pricking up the phone to schedule a showing. Now compound that by "x" amount of other buyers. The influx will initiate multiple bids and sometimes a bidding war in lieu of the competition. More than likely, they will bid up the price – beyond what it was originally worth. Creating a sense of competition can ultimately increase the price buyers are willing to pay. 


2. Choose your Realtor Wisely 


Unless you have sufficient experience yourself, you are better off hiring a good Realtor. You need someone with an excellent understanding of the market in your neighborhood, with the proper blend of experience and availability to match. They should have solid network and a cutting edge marketing plan. Posting your home on the MLS, taking some nice pictures and sticking a for sale sign in your yard and relying only on traditional advertising methods is not enough anymore. Realtors who embrace technology have many tools to gain digital exposure for your home. Versatility and innovation are key qualities modern listing agents must have in our digital world. Your Realtor should be a full time consummate professional. Don't focus on the brokerage brand name, a fancy auction house or national chain name doesn't sell homes, an individual and/or team with a solid network and strategic marketing plan does.

3. Good Lighting


Lighting is one of the most important factors in selling a home. Having said that, take every step you can to maximize the lighting inside a home. Aside from location, lighting is the one thing that every buyer cites as a necessity. Proper lighting is essential in the home selling process. Try these simple steps that can make a home brighter. Take down drapes, clean the windows, change the lampshades, increase the wattage of light bulbs, and cut the bushes outside to allow sunshine in. Conversely, a poorly lit house will have the opposite impact. Improper lighting can actually turn off prospective buyers.

4.  Quick Fixes


Savvy, quick fixes almost always pay off. It is when sellers overextend their resources and “over-upgrade,” that profit margins begin to shrink. Consider updates that will offer the most return. A fresh coat of paint, new curtains and fresh throw rugs. Replace door handles, cabinet hardware, fix that leaky faucet and clean the grout. While these changes do not amount to much, their cumulative presence can dramatically increase the aesthetic value of a home. 

5. Avoid Personal Touches

One of the most important things to do when selling a house is to “de-personalize” it. The more personal stuff in your home, the less potential buyers can imagine themselves living there. Pack up the family photos, memorabilia collections and personal keepsakes.

6. Prioritize The Kitchen


Some say that you are not selling a home, you are selling a kitchen. The importance of the kitchen can’t be underestimated, it is the heart of any home. Cooking, entertaining friends and family or hosting a holiday, you’ll always find people gathering in the kitchen. The benefits of remodeling your kitchen are endless, and the best part of it is that you’ll likely get 85% of your money back.

7. First Impressions


No matter how good the interior of your home is, buyers have already judged your home before they walk through the door. You’ve heard the adage, “You never have a second chance to make a first impression”. That couldn’t be more true when it comes to selling your home.  It’s important to make people feel warm, welcome and safe as they approach the house. Spruce up your home’s exterior with inexpensive shrubs and colored flowers. You can typically get a 100% return on the money you put into your home’s curb appeal.

8. Stage Your Home 


Make sure that each room and area is staged for whatever it is supposed to be.  If it’s an office, get rid of the extra bed and dresser and make it an office. Add trendy art, fitting decor and furniture to make your home look its best!

9. Be Ready To Show


Be ready to show your home at a moments notice. Have clutter containers that you can throw in your car, wipe off counters, vacuum and straighten up in a flash. The more flexible you are at showing your home, the faster you’ll find a buyer!

10. Spread The Word


Your neighbors are your best salespeople. Who better, they know your neighborhood and can vouch for that, you and your home. Make sure they know your home is for sale and even invite them to the Open House.  Be sure to share your listing on social media as well. 

For more information on the above tips or begin your home search, contact Christian Di Stasio today at, 646-280-7136 or email at cd@christiandistasio.com 

#christiandistasio #distasiorealestategroup #theboutique #venturerealtors #realtor #realestate #bergencountynj #morriscountynj #essexcoutynj #hudsoncountynj #tipsforbuyingahome #paramusnj #luxury #luxuryrealestate 
By Christian DiStasio 15 May, 2024
Introduction
By Christian DiStasio 15 May, 2024
Dive into the essentials of residential properties with our guide. Learn about various property types, their features, and investment advantages to find the perfect match for your needs and goals
By Christian DiStasio 05 Feb, 2024
Ready, Set, Sell! A Guide to Preparing Your Property for Listing
By Christian DiStasio 31 Aug, 2023
Most Important Factors When Selling Your House Enhance your home’s selling potential by pricing it right and presenting it in the best possible light. The Christian Di Stasio Group shares your home-selling goals and will equip you with the knowledge and tools to price and prepare your home. The Seller’s Guide to Real Estate is our ebook that explores the key methods to selling and the ways to ensure your home doesn’t sit on the market. While home sales hit new highs in Northern New Jersey for myriad reasons, including low inventory, high demand, and sporadic dips in mortgage rates, there are two universal truths about real estate when it comes to selling: PRICE An educated home buyer understands when they see a good deal as well as an unrealistic seller who has a pie in the sky price. As a strategy, we want to price a listing to sell and to elicit attention. Pricing your home to sell is an intricate calculation that aims to hit the sweet spot: not so high that you reduce buyer interest and the listing becomes stale, and not so low that you undersell its value or indicate that there’s a structural problem or other deal-breaker. It is important to build in flexibility to the list price. If you receive an offer that’s below list price, consider making a counteroffer or other small concessions. Conversely, if a property is priced right or slightly underpriced, you can potentially receive multiple offers. The Christian Di Stasio Group aims to hit a target and price your home right at market value. Pricing your house fairly based on market conditions increases the chance you’ll see a bidding war, and when that happens, you’ll likely get an even higher final sale price. Above all, when homes are priced right, they tend to sell quickly. PRESENTATION First impressions matter, especially in real estate. The outside should reflect how lovely your home is on the inside. Keep the outside of your home as inviting as the inside. The front door, mailbox, lawn, and driveway should be picture-perfect and evoke a sense of cleanliness, organization, symmetry, and serendipity. You want to leave an indelible mark on prospective buyers, and proper curb appeal sets the tone from that point forward, sending a strong message about your home’s value. If your home’s exterior is in need of TLC, consider repainting, replacing old hardware, sprucing up shrubbery and flowers, adding landscape lighting to accent walkways, tile your doorstep, repair cracks or stains on your driveway, and put away bikes and toys. The exterior should be in pristine condition and clear of clutter. Creating inviting outdoor living spaces makes it doubly inviting for potential buyers to step inside. The interior of your home should be spotless, and that might mean hiring a professional cleaner to do a deep cleaning. Emphasize storage and remove unnecessary furniture; a clean, decluttered house will give buyers the confidence that it has been well-maintained. Declutter and de-personalize to make your home seem larger and more appealing to buyers. Remove personalized items such as family photos or a child’s artwork. You want potential buyers to envision it as their home. Fix minor repairs, eliminate pet or smoke odors, and increase the sense of space inside your home with the careful placement of mirrors, light fixtures, and make sure windows are sparkling clean inside and out. Getting your home spotless and organized is a precursor to capturing appealing listing photos as well as having successful showings and open houses. The goal is to create beautiful, aspirational, and thoughtful spaces in which people can imagine themselves living and existing. The Christian Di Stasio Group would be happy to walk you through any of the ideas contained in this article. We are proud to provide exceptional real estate brokerage services as Bergen County, NJ, Franklin Lakes, NJ, Paramus, NJ, and Westwood, NJ Realtors. Whether you are selling, buying, or investing, we are your go-to team for impeccable, full- service resources, representation, and tools. We can help you price your home right and transform interiors and exteriors, create functionality, and cultivate a magazine-worthy look so that your home doesn’t sit on the market. Our team is dedicated to providing professional and comprehensive real estate services to our valued clientele.
By Christian DiStasio 31 May, 2023
“Now’s the time to buy real estate!” This enthusiastic headline appears time and again but landing your dream house can be problematic if you don’t have the right financing. How you will fund your home purchase is vital to ensure you make a financially sound real estate decision.
By Christian DiStasio 18 Apr, 2023
The Christian Di Stasio Group is an award-winning real estate team who can help you reach that 2023 goal of getting into the home of your dreams. Our 28+ years of experience in Westwood NJ Real Estate and Bergen County NJ Real Estate make us the perfect fit for any type of client, including growing families, young professionals, empty nesters, and investors.
By Christian DiStasio 27 Mar, 2023
Buyers love Northern New Jersey for its top-rated schools, close proximity to New York City, and bucolic towns. With Spring right around the corner, the season to sell is here. Hiring a top-performing real estate agent is the first step to successfully selling your home. The Christian Di Stasio Group is composed of Franklin Lakes, NJ realtors, Paramus, NJ realtors, and Westwood, NJ realtors whose record-setting sales in Bergen County, NJ reflect our high standards of quality, integrity, and invaluable market insights.
By Christian DiStasio 04 Jan, 2023
7 Basics To Know When Starting To Invest In Real Estate
By Christian Di Stasio 26 Mar, 2020
How many times have you heard a Real Estate Agent tell you they are going to find you a deal? If good deals were just lying around on the side of the road or growing from trees, the value of the deal isn't there.
By Christian Di Stasio 26 Mar, 2020
Yep, that's right.. your eye's aren't playing tricks on you and this isn't click bait. You can get over asking price for your home in 30 days. How? Well, lets get into the basics.
More Posts
Share by: