Are you ready to sell your home, and wanting in on what realtors really think and should be telling you? In this blog I’m going to give you the 3 things that other realtors are afraid to tell you about your home. And make sure you stick around for my last thing, which is a make it or break it when it comes to listing your house.

#3: It smells

The very first thing I, or any buyer notices before they even SEE anything, is the smell. Cigarette smells are obvious. Pet smells might not be noticeable to the home and pet owner. And not just unpleasant smells, but also air fresheners or candles that are too strong. If a buyer notices a strong air freshener it could be a turn off and may leave them wondering what you’re trying to cover up. Open some windows, air out your home, and get a light, clean, mild scent going throughout..

#2 It needs to be cleaned…and Staged

These 2 things go hand in hand. I ALWAYS recommend a professional cleaner. They’ll notice the nitty gritty things that you may not notice since you see it every day. Get a professional cleaning crew in there to get it sparkling a day or so before photos and showings start.

Staging is also important to open up and maximize the space, and paint a picture for the potential buyer.

Something else that goes along with this whole theme…is making yourself scarce–especially if you have small kids and pets. During the first weekend of your home hitting the market, plan on getting out of the house. Plan a weekend getaway, visit grandma’s house, do whatever you need to do in order to be out of the house to get that home shown as much as possible during the first few critical days on the market. The more showings you have, the more likely you are to get an offer. Once it’s been cleaned, tip-toe on up out of there.

#3: It’s not worth as much as you think it is

This is obviously a tough one. It’s hard to have this conversation with sellers, especially when a neighbor down the street got a pretty penny for their home. I tread lightly here, and handle these conversations with caution and respect. But Ultimately, I'm not doing my job or the job that you hire me to do if I don’t give me professional FACT-BASED advice on the proper list price. The list price out the gate is a huge make-it or break-it, so I want to ensure that it is strong and accurate. If the list price is too high, we won’t get as many people in for showings, which directly affects the number of offers you’ll get.

If you’re curious on how I get to this list price, I break it down while also de-bunking the giant Zillow elephant in the room in my next blog called “Zillow says your house is worth WHAT?!”

If you have any questions on your house, I’m happy to do a home evaluation for you. Give me a shout and I’d love to help.