3 Simple Ways To Maximize Your House Sale in Des Moines

When we’re ready to sell our house, typically there are many thoughts running through our heads. Having lived in the home for so long, we feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. We think about all the memories we’ve built with family and friends that have now been left behind. It can be hard to let go of the home we have grown to know so well over time. 

Making an emotional decision to sell a home can be complicated. Nervousness, sadness, and excitement are all natural responses to the prospect of saying goodbye. It’s important to fuel the good emotions so that they can help with the selling process. The task at hand is moving on from this chapter of our lives, letting go of our past to embrace our future.

Moving is a big deal, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. To help homeowners make the most of their moves and maximize profits when selling their houses, we’ve created a shortlist of simple tips to keep in mind. These straightforward suggestions will help you get the ball rolling to reach your goals — whether you’re just considering putting your home up for sale or are days away from closing on your dream home.

1. Set Your Home's Price Right

When you’re selling a house, it’s tempting to price it as high as possible in the hopes that you can drive up interest. However, if you price your home too high, buyers will not be interested and might not even bother with your listing.

If you sell your home, the buyer will have to get a loan most likely. The bank’s appraisal determines the maximum amount that can be lent on the property. If you price your home too high before an appraisal, you could miss out on a sale.

When you hire a real estate agent to sell your house, he or she will know what comparable homes are selling for in your area and help price it to maximize its appeal.

Inventory is low and buyers are more willing to pay more for houses than they were even six months ago. It’s common to think that when inventory is low, as it is in many metro areas, that we can set our price higher than what comparable homes are selling for. But remember if you want to get top dollar for your house, be sure to price it right!

2. Keeping Emotions In Check

When you’re selling your home, it’s important to keep your emotions in check. It can be difficult to detach from a space you’ve lived in for a long time, but if you are attached to things that make the house difficult to sell or overprice it, you might end up stuck with the home for much longer than you want. It’s easy to get attached to your space, and that's a good thing. If you don't have an emotional connection to your home, selling it will be much more difficult. The trick is to strike a balance between being too emotionally attached and not feeling anything at all.

The best way to do this is by getting an outside perspective on the value of your home. This can be done through the help of a professional appraiser or real estate agent, but sometimes just looking outside yourself for a different point of view can make all the difference in the world. If you're acting as your own agent, get feedback from friends or family members who can provide a fresh outlook on what needs to be done to sell your home.

What exactly are you trying to do when you try to detach yourself from your emotions? It's not hard-heartedness; it's just knowing that emotions can cloud judgment and lead you into spending money you don't need to spend. When you're too close to something, it's easy to think that if you make one more tweak here or add one more item there, it'll sell instantly. But most of the time if it doesn't work after the first attempt, chances are it won't work after the second or third. So, don’t be afraid to ask experts and real estate professionals for help. Real estate professionals are trained to negotiate and come to market with similar properties and help remove the emotions involved.

3. Staging Your Home Properly Helps Win Over A Buyer

It’s a fact that most people who are shopping for a home don’t want to buy yours. The more you can do to make your house seem like the least desirable on the market, the better! If you’re a homeowner who has recently put their house on the market, you’ve probably already heard these two words: staging and curb appeal. Staging your home is a proven way to appeal to a potential buyer. But what is staging, exactly? Think of it as making your home look as appealing and appealing as possible. Your real estate agent may even ask that you hire a professional stager to help you with the process. As you're preparing to sell, this is one of our items on the checklist we will discuss with you.

You want to attract buyers who may not be looking for what makes your house unique. If you’ve gone through a recent renovation or are planning one, wait until after the sale before you start your next project.

To stage your house, look at it from the perspective of someone who isn’t interested in your design choices. Remove any personal items and photographs from view—it will be easier for buyers to envision themselves living in your space if they can focus on its layout and functionality.

Remove any furniture that doesn’t fit with the home’s existing décor; if you haven’t already replaced major pieces with neutral colors, now is the time. Your kitchen counters should be clear of anything but appliances, and all books should be removed from bookshelves. If you have trouble letting go of sentimental items that aren't useful in staging your house, consider taking them to a hotel or other temporary holding place.

It should go without saying that the decision to sell your home is a big one. From knowing how you want to list your home (and for how much), to preparing for the necessary renovations, to finding the right buyer for your unique property, there’s plenty of work to be done—not to mention time and money investments made.

Whether you’re selling your house or buying a new home, connecting with others along the way can make the process smoother. But the truth is, some relationships prove to be more valuable than others. Our team is passionate about ensuring that your life goes more smoothly throughout the real estate transition.

So if you’re considering selling your home, what should you do next? We'd love to chat and help you put together a game plan if this is on your to do list for 2022! We work to make the home selling and home buying experience a breeze. We're here to chat whenever you're ready!