After all the “blood, sweat and tears” of getting your wholesale flip “retail buyer ready”, real estate investors all have the same question.
How can I get a buyer interested in purchasing my investment house rather than the one down the street? The answer is quite simple. Your home must make a better first impression than your competition. It is imperative that your potential buyer wants to come inside the moment they drive up to the house. So how do you do that? Think like a buyer! You need to get some thoughts to getting your house ready to sell.
Curb Appeal Is Everything!
- Make sure to keep the grass cut and trimmed while the house is for sale. If you are selling during the summer months, extra watering may be needed to keep the lawn in tip top shape.
- Pay special attention to the landscaping. Get rid of the over grown shrubs. Spend a few dollars and put some new plants in if you need to. Make sure all plants are neatly trimmed, there are no weeds in the planting beds and put down fresh mulch. Give it that “manicured” look.
- Plant some brightly colored flowers near the front of the house. Also, consider adding a couple of pots of flowers at or near the front door. Be sure to pick something that doesn’t need daily watering.
- Make sure all of the windows are sparkling on the exterior as well as on the interior.
- If your investment house has siding, is it clean or does it need power washing?
- Check out your front door. Does it need a fresh coat of paint or maybe just a good cleaning?
- Make sure your mailbox is painted and in good condition if it hasn’t been replaced. Consider adding some attractive house numbers if you don’t already have them.
- If you have a deck or patio in the back yard make sure it is neat and inviting. You want your buyers to be able to imagine relaxing or entertaining in this space at the end of the day. A power washer can be rented for about $40-$50 dollars if heavy duty cleaning is needed.
- Make sure that all garden equipment and trash containers are stored out of sight.
Take A Close Look At the Interior
- Do a thorough house cleaning paying special attention to the kitchen and the bathrooms after you have completed the work. Remember these are the rooms that sell houses!
- Make sure all floors have been cleaned and are in good condition. This also applies to any carpet that hasn’t been replaced.
- Give the house the “sniff test”. Does it smell good?
- Is the house painted in neutral colors? Buyers don’t want to have to paint before moving in. Painting the trim a crisp white makes the home look modern and inviting.
- Consider doing some simple home staging so that prospective buyers can imagine what the home will look like with furniture in it. Home staging always pays big dividends!
- Does the basement have a “musty” smell? Figure out what the problem is and correct it.
- Make sure all the light bulbs are working; double check all of the smallest details in the home. Does everything in the house function properly? Are all of the doorknobs and cabinet handles secure? Walk through the house and give it the same scrutiny that a buyer will.
- Be sure to change the furnace filter. If the furnace hasn’t been replaced during the rehab, have it professionally cleaned and inspected.
Getting your house ready to sell doesn't have to be a big deal, but it's necessary.
Real estate investors that pay special attention to the details when rehabbing their investment houses, send a strong message to prospective buyers that this is no ordinary house. This house is special! If your house shines in comparison to the competition you’ll be putting out the “sold” sign in no time.