Home staging could include removing some furniture to make rooms appear larger. Removing a leaf from a dining table plus extra chairs will make your dining room appear larger.
If possible, arrange for pets to stay with friends or family. Remove pet toys, bowls, beds, etc. A prospective buyer who doesn't like dogs may not be able too get over the mental image of your dog running through "their new house" or sleeping in "their bedroom". A buyer who has a cat may be concerned their cat will mark his territory wherever he smells your cat. A pet free home is worth more to more people.
You need to keep in mind that you're not going to make the changes to live in your home. Your only goal is to show your home at its very best to potential buyers. Without being distracted by clutter and dirt, they'll be able to picture themselves in the home you're trying to sell. They will find it hard to resist making an offer
First of all you will want to open up the living areas by packing up anything that might clutter up any living areas. While prospective buyers don't want to show a house that is completely empty, moving out unnecessary items helps to make your home feel larger.
You will also want to remove personal items from your home. It is hard for prospective buyers to envision their belongings in your home if they see your toothbrush, deodorant and family photos everywhere.
If your home is not selling and has been on the market for awhile, you are not alone. Much of the country is dealing with the same problems and their houses are not selling either. There are numerous different reasons as to why homes are currently not selling. One of the main reasons that your house is not selling, could very well be related to the fact that there are more home for sale currently than there are buyers in most areas.
One trick to renew interest in your property is to offer "special financing" with a seller funded 2-1 Buydown. At a cost of roughly 2.5% of the mortgage amount, you can offer a buyer a fixed rate at 5% for the first year, 6% the second year, and 7% for years 3-30. Rates may vary due to market conditions and are subject to qualification. The auto inustry has sold sold cars for years with financing incentives.
If your house is not selling ask your realtor what the average time to sell in your area has been over the last 6 months. You may find that the area you are trying to sell in has a depressed market.
If you are using a real estate agent, you may also want to ask yourself if the agent is doing everything he/she could be doing to help your home sell. The honest truth is that some agents are much more effective sellers than others. If you are unhappy with your current agent and would like a recommendation, contact your local mortgage specialist. Chances are he has built relationships with effective agents and can direct you to the most successful ones in your area.
Remember, you're not selling furniture; you're selling a house! Keeping this in mind, you may want to remove any large or ornate pieces of furniture. Unless your taste in furniture is the same as the potential buyer's, large pieces aren't going to help your house sell. Their absence, on the other hand, will make your house appear spacious and inviting.
If your house is not selling you could consider hiring a staging company. They can make changes to your homes appearance that make it more desirable to buyers and will help you sell your house.
If your house is not selling you should examine your homes curb appeal and do everything you can to improve it and make the home more inviting and appealing to potential borrowers. Simple things like trimming the bush's, mowing the lawn and painting window trim can mean alot when a potential buyer looks at your home for the first time.
