This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

6 Essential Tips For Selling Your Home In Any Market

Jean Marie Veegh with East Shore Properties is your local leading source for Rhode Island and Newport County Real Estate.

It's no secret that we've been on a bit of a real estate roller coaster ride for the past decade. For now however, we're seeing some tangible statistical improvement in Rhode Island's housing market.

Per the Providence Journal last week - "July numbers from the Rhode Island Association of Realtors show continued improvement in the state’s real-estate market, as sales of existing houses surged by 22 percent…” The Rhode Island Association of Realtors reported that 957 single-family houses sold in Rhode Island in July, up from 786 sales in July 2012.

While I’m cautiously optimistic, it can still be a bit of a real estate jungle out there. When the time is right to sell your home, having an edge always matters. 

Find out what's happening in Tiverton-Little Comptonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

That being said, here are 6 essential tips to help you sell your home quickly, and for the best return possible:

1. Exterior staging

Start with a curb to door clean up. Make sure the lawn and hedges are trimmed and neat. Weed and mulch the flower beds. Place a couple of large planters near the entrance and have them overflowing with healthy looking flowers - and keep them watered! Don't forget to replace the worn out welcome mat.

2. De-clutter, rinse and repeat

There's no second chance to make a good first impression so aim for the ‘Bed and Breakfast’ look. Make your home feel as spacious as possible. Lose the extra bulky furniture pieces if you can do without them. Box up everything extraneous and personal; replace the family photo wall collage with a few large pieces of tasteful, inexpensive art. Buyers want to visualize your house being their house – it’s difficult for them to do that with your personal items marking the territory. De-clutter and do it everywhere. I can’t stress this one enough. Box up the trinkets, hide the kitchen gadgets, empty out crammed closets – avoid the flea market look. Beds should be made perfectly and spring for extra colorful pillows if you can. Finally, your home can't too spic and span. Showers and sinks should sparkle, litter box clean and tucked away from view, and eliminate the dust bunnies. I’m not a big advocate of air fresheners and camouflaging smells – instead place a bouquet (or two) of fresh fragrant flowers. 

3. Best condition award

Although you don’t need to over-improve, one critical way you can compete is on overall condition. Consider having an inspection in advance of listing your home, and get as many of those repairs done as you can. Many Buyers today are busy professionals with little time to deal with repairs – it’s a major selling point to be able to advertise a truly move-in condition property with a non-existent repair bill. Homebuyers also tend to exaggerate (especially via their offer) the perceived cost of repairs. Make sure the little nicks and scratches, squeaky doors, doorknobs that don’t work, and testy handles are repaired before you start showing your home.

4. Social media, baby

Social media hit the real estate industry like gangbusters, completely transforming many aspects of listing and selling real estate. You may not need to understand Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram, but be sure to choose a real estate agent who embraces technology – and knows how to make it work for you.

5. You oughta be in pictures

Million dollar homes aren’t the only properties that should be perfectly, if not professionally, photographed. Statistics tell us that about 80+% of homeowners started their search at home, online, without an agent. So the first image they see is the one that has to draw them in. No matter what the price of the property, the lead image should never be captured on a gray sky day. Many agents underestimate the importance of great photos and videos – but trust me, Buyer’s don’t. It’s a relatively small expense that reaps huge rewards. 

6. The price is right. Right?

While it’s not vital to be the lowest priced home in your neighborhood (especially when aesthetic and other improvements have been made) it is critical that the listing price puts you right in line with your competition. If you price it too high, then have to lower it later, it will cost you more than if you priced it right the first time. Overpriced homes linger on the market and they help sell your neighbor’s home. Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes and determine what a fair price might be. Have friends, neighbors tour your home and ask for their honest assessment. Your agent should provide actual MLS sales stats, but also do your own online shopping homework to assess where your home should rank. 


For more home selling tips, or if you're interested in finding out what your home is worth today, send me an email JMVeegh@cox.net or give me a ring at 401-847-8818. Visit my website for more real estate information or to search for homes.



All the Best!

Jean Marie Veegh
East Shore Properties
Portsmouth, Rhode Island

Find out what's happening in Tiverton-Little Comptonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?