Using the Holidays to Your Advantage When Selling

If you’re selling your home and thinking about staging, you can use holiday decorations to your advantage. Here’s how.

Buying a home? Search all Greater McAllen Area homes for sale

Selling your Greater McAllen Area home? Get a free home value report

When it comes to home staging, holiday decor can actually help sell your house. 

The first thing to remember is that going overboard on decorations can actually keep your home from selling; you need to strike the right balance. The ‘less is more' mantra may tempt you to skip the decorations, but a few subtle touches like a pinecone centerpiece, an evergreen wreath, or a simmering pot of cider on the stove can all create a warm and festive feeling for buyers.

You want to avoid overly-religious flourishes because they could be off-putting to some buyers. You want to keep your walkways clean and clear, too, rather than having festive decorations turn into tripping hazards.

Don’t hide your home’s best assets, highlight them!

Remember not to hide your home’s best assets, either. For example, don’t cover every inch of your fireplace mantle. Instead, showcase it with a select few holiday items. Try to highlight key areas of your home with stylish fall decor, a tray of cookies, or a well-placed Christmas tree.

If you have any questions about decorating a home you’re selling or you’re just thinking about buying or selling a home in the McAllen market, give me a call or send me an email. I’d love to help!

The #1 Mistake Home Sellers Should Avoid

If you are preparing your home for the market, you have to declutter your property. Where do you start? I’ll give you a few tips today.

Buying a home? Search all Greater McAllen Area homes for sale

Selling your Greater McAllen Area home? Get a free home value report

The number one mistake most sellers make when putting their homes on the market is not decluttering their homes. Decluttering is a simple, easy thing to do, but not cleaning up can cost you thousands of dollars on your home sale. 

These days, 90% to 95% of buyers begin their home search online, which means that your first home showing is on the Internet. If your home is cluttered and not photographed properly, buyers will eliminate it from their wish list quickly.

So, how do you start? I recommend going through your home and looking for things you want to throw away and give away. Then, start packing the things you want to keep. Fill as many medium-sized boxes as you can and put them in storage before your home goes on the market. 

Get rid of things you don’t want anymore and pack the items you want to keep.

You should also clear off the counters and the fridge. Store extra furniture to make your home look more spacious. You should also pack away knick-knacks, books, and personal items to give your home a more neutral feel. That way, potential buyers can imagine themselves living in your home more easily.

Once your home is decluttered, you will be amazed at how great your home looks, and so will buyers. Decluttering helps you get the highest possible sales price in the shortest amount of time possible. 

If you have any questions about decluttering or you’re not sure where to start, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

2 Unique Opportunities for Sellers in the Fall

Sometimes it pays to go against the crowd. Don’t wait to list your home in the spring just because everyone else does; instead, consider these two great reasons to list this fall.

Buying a home? Search all Greater McAllen Area homes for sale

Selling your Greater McAllen Area home? Get a free home value report

As you probably know, spring is the season when most people in the McAllen area put their homes on the market. As a result, summer is the time when most homes sell.

That said, there are two great reasons why you should put your house on the market this fall. Sometimes it pays to go against the crowd.

First of all, because so many people list during the spring, you will face less competition by listing in the fall.

Sometimes it pays to go against the crowd!

Secondly, buyers in the fall tend to be more motivated. These buyers have been looking for a home for several months and want to move in before the holidays. As a result, they are more willing to make a deal.

If you have any other questions about our current market or about preparing your home to sell this fall, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!