How to make your house stand out when selling?

Author: Mathilde Hodkiewicz  |  Last update: Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Start With Curb Appeal Paint the front door and/or shutters a bright color, but make sure it coordinates well with the rest of the home's colors. Replace old house numbers, lighting, the mailbox and welcome mat. Clean up the edging around flowerbeds and lay down fresh mulch.

What makes a home stand out when selling?

Focus on making a good first impression.

Think curb appeal and entryways. Could you remove some overgrown shrubs from the front of the house, clean the gutters, or plant a new flower bed? Would the front door benefit from a fresh coat of paint?

What are the biggest selling points in a house?

Know the two hot spots

The rooms buyers most closely inspect (and judge) in a house are the kitchen and master bath. These are the interior spaces where the most value can be added during a sale, so they need to look their best.

How do I get the most out of my house when selling it?

Here are 15 secrets to selling your home faster, no matter when you list it.
  1. Pick a selling strategy.
  2. Hire an experienced real estate agent.
  3. Clean everything.
  4. Depersonalize your home.
  5. Let the light in.
  6. Remove excess furniture and clutter.
  7. Consider staging your home.
  8. Invest in a professional photographer.

What is the 3 foot 5 foot rule in staging a home?

The 3-foot 5-foot rule refers to staging a home with both up-close details and overall design in mind. Most people notice details, like small décor and the condition of countertops and appliances, from about 3 feet away. The overall design of a room becomes clear from about 5 feet away.

How to Stage Your House for Sale on a Budget: 7 Staging Secrets/Tips

How to make your house more appealing for sale?

Here are 50 quick ways to increase the value and appeal of your home without breaking the bank:
  1. Hire a handyman. ...
  2. Declutter your home. ...
  3. Donate your unneeded items. ...
  4. Have a garage sale. ...
  5. Refresh worn paint. ...
  6. Neutralize rooms that are highly stylized. ...
  7. Reduce or remove family photo collections. ...
  8. Clean or replace the carpet.

Do agents pay for staging?

It depends. Some agents will pay for a portion of staging costs, other agents will not.

What adds the most resale value to a house?

Projects That Boost Your Home's Value
  • Boost the bathrooms. ...
  • Remodel the attic or basement. ...
  • Get decked out. ...
  • Boost curb appeal. ...
  • Improve energy efficiency. ...
  • Swimming Pools. ...
  • Luxury Upgrades. ...
  • Garage Conversions. Converting garages can add square footage to your home's living area, but most buyers want garages.

What makes a house sell faster?

Tips for selling your house fast include finding the right real estate agent, pricing it correctly so that it sells, ensuring it's cleaned and decluttered, boosting your curb appeal, taking care of quick repairs, and sweetening the deal.

When to worry about a house not selling?

Generally, if your home has been on the market for 30 to 45 days without significant interest or offers, it might be time to reassess your strategy. The real estate market is highly dynamic, and what's considered a “normal” time to sell can vary widely.

What size house sells the fastest?

Starter homes are typically smaller, more affordable properties perfect for first-time buyers or individuals looking to downsize. They often feature two to three bedrooms and one or two bathrooms. What makes starter homes sell quickly is their affordability and broad appeal to a wide range of buyers.

What is the most used room in a house?

First on the list is the living room, often considered the social hub of the home. It is where family and friends gather to relax, converse, and spend time together. A well-designed living room can set the tone for the rest of the house.

What is a strong selling point?

1. a desirable quality or feature that something has which makes it likely that people will want to buy it. 2. a quality in a person that appeals to others. His great selling point among voters is his youth.

What makes a house not sellable?

Deferred Maintenance. The last thing a buyer wants to see when walking into a potential home is a leaky faucet or peeling paint. While a seller might want to put their old home in their rearview mirror, minor repairs and updates might be necessary to close a sale.

What hurts house resale value?

Putting off maintenance or neglecting to do it at all can lead to lower property values because they can lead to expensive repairs later. A small leak in the plumbing may not seem like a big deal at first, but over time it can cause structural damage, high water bills, or mold.

What sells a house most?

Add outdoor amenities

Outdoor living spaces can be a major value driver as buyers shop for a home. And they're in especially high demand. In fact, 51% of agents say outdoor improvements are the top features or upgrades that can make a home more appealing to the current market.

What are the hardest months to sell a house?

Because demand for properties decreases at this time of the year, houses sell at lower prices, making December and January the worst months to sell a home.

How to increase home value by $50,000?

Adding $50K in Value to Your Home: Top Strategies for Sellers
  1. Curb Appeal Matters. First impressions count. ...
  2. Upgrade the Kitchen. The kitchen is often the heart of the home. ...
  3. Bathroom Remodel. Bathrooms also hold great value. ...
  4. Energy Efficiency Improvements. ...
  5. Fresh Paint and Flooring. ...
  6. Professional Staging. ...
  7. Proper Pricing Strategy.

How can I maximize my profit when selling my house?

To maximize how much you earn from the sale, it's important to put in some work to get your property market-ready. This includes improving your home's curb appeal, investing in professional listing photos and staging your home before opening it up to buyers.

What devalues a house the most?

8 things that will devalue your home
  • It's important to every homeowner that their property retains its value. ...
  • 1) Poor workmanship. ...
  • 2) An increase in crime levels. ...
  • 3) A substandard kitchen. ...
  • 4) Noise pollution. ...
  • 5) Uninspiring exterior. ...
  • 6) How silent are the neighbours? ...
  • 7) Not energy efficient enough.

What room adds the most value to a house?

Primary Suite Addition

Adding a primary suite that includes a large primary bathroom and walk-in closet is not only a functional and smart choice for day-to-day living, it's a good investment. This type of addition brings, on average, a 63% return.

What brings down the value of a house?

Age could bring down a home's value, especially if the home needs work. Buying a fixer-upper can translate to all kinds of additional costs. There are cosmetic concerns such as an outdated kitchen or a less-than-modern floor plan, and then there are functional issues like problems with the home's roof or plumbing.

Does a house need to be staged to sell?

Staged homes tend to make a stronger first impression, which can lead to more offers and a quicker sale. In real estate, home staging has become an essential tool for sellers looking to maximize their selling price and minimize their time on the market. Nearly every home we list benefits from staging.

Who typically pays for staging a house?

In truth, there is no clear answer. Staging is often paid for by the sellers of the home, as they know they will see a return on this investment in the form of more offers at higher dollar amounts.

Do realtors pay for photography?

Most sellers can expect their real estate agent to pay for listing photos. As part of an agent's marketing strategy, real estate photos are essential to promoting a listing online.

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