With all the beautiful homes and fun things to do in and around Rankin County, the area continues to attract home buyers who want to live in this remarkable location. Between the natural bodies of water and large reservoirs scattered across the region, the vibrant national forests, and attractions such as golf, tennis, museums, great restaurants, and shops, it's no wonder the county is considered one of Mississippi's more exclusive communities.
As it's one of the fastest-growing counties in the state, it's not surprising that Rankin County, MS, real estate is one of the more competitive markets in the region. Many homeowners are taking advantage of such a robust market since they're able to sell their homes fast. Even so, some sellers have a different experience. While they expected the same quick results after they put their house on the market, they discovered it wasn't moving as fast as they had anticipated.
If you're finding the home-selling process a bit more challenging than you expected, you'll be pleasantly surprised to learn there are some simple and inexpensive ways to start attracting the right buyers and, more importantly, landing the big offer your home deserves.
#1. Generate excitement with the first glimpse
They say that you never get a second chance to make a good first impression. When it comes to selling a home, this time-honored saying holds especially true. To begin attracting the right buyers, it's important to consider the first impression your residence presents to visitors.
For some, boosting curb appeal may be as simple as giving a home's exterior surfaces and the surrounding pedestrian areas a good cleaning. A seller may want to complete their own DIY project or hire someone to pressure wash the roof, siding, driveway, and sidewalks, as well as any patio or deck areas. Homeowners should also repair or replace any worn or rusty items, such as the mailbox, house numbers, decorative fencing, or exterior lighting fixtures.
Some owners need to go further than a simple exterior clean-up. If the roof is in poor condition, it may be a good idea to replace it before putting the house on the market. You can transform many exteriors with a fresh coat of paint, some new or repainted shutters, and the replacement of old, rusty gutters.
You should trim back overgrown bushes, trees, and other unkempt landscaping features and remove dead foliage. Conversely, if there is little to no attractive landscaping, a seller may want to consult with a local landscaping company for low-cost tips on how to improve the appearance of their lawn.
Overall, the goal of an exterior spruce-up project is to provide potential buyers with a first impression of a home that is clean, fresh, and well cared for. Even more importantly, a house's exterior and landscaping features should encourage potential buyers to want to explore the rest of the property even more.
#2. Spruce up the front entrance
After updating a residence's exterior, walkways, and landscaping, the next area to address is the front entrance. Improvements can range from a good cleaning and the addition of some attractive plant containers and a new welcome mat to completely upgrading the front entrance. A complete upgrade may include buying a new door and new light fixtures, updating the porch with a fresh coat of paint, or perhaps installing a new porch if the current one is in an obvious state of disrepair.
Again, the goal of updating the front entrance is to motivate potential buyers to explore further. An inviting, well-lit, and attractive front entrance presents a positive image to buyers and provides a natural transition to the inner spaces of a house. Once inside, the goal is to further impress them with the beautiful interior features and amenities of what is, potentially, their new abode.
#3. Show off your home's inner beauty
It's difficult for buyers to envision themselves in rooms full of clutter, excess furniture, and personal items. At the very least, a seller should plan to give the entire interior of their residence a good cleaning.
The first step of an interior clean-up project actually serves two purposes. It helps sellers get a head start on packing, and the process reduces unsightly clutter that tends to overwhelm potential buyers. Sellers can start the project by packing up personal items and other clutter they won't need until they move into their new location. They can sell unwanted items online or in a yard sale or give them away. When the dwelling is free of clutter, sellers can perform their own DIY cleaning or hire a cleaning service. They should thoroughly scour bathrooms, remove dust and cobwebs, and clean any carpet using a carpet shampoo machine. If there are any hardwood floors, they may require refinishing if they're in poor shape.
Once a seller has thoroughly cleaned and decluttered their house, the next step is staging. Hiring a staging company can go a long way toward improving the appearance of interior spaces. Professional stagers keep abreast of the latest design trends that are popular with today's buyers, and they're experts in applying their knowledge to highlight a room's best features. Stagers can also recommend further improvements, such as new paint colors or other relatively easy improvements, to help maximize a seller's return on investment.
#4. Refresh outdoor living spaces
If your hectic lifestyle has afforded you little time to maintain your home's outdoor spaces, it's time to give them special attention. The greater the number of outdoor areas you can make more appealing, the better. When an outdoor space looks comfortable and inviting, it appears to be an extension of the interior portions of a house. In turn, the extra space makes the entire residence seem more spacious and comfortable.
Some outdoor living spaces may need little more than a good cleaning and the removal of any clutter or worn-out items. Another easy task is to simply rearrange the outdoor furniture to facilitate conversation while entertaining or dining outdoors. Some outdoor spaces may require more improvements, such as updating the lighting fixtures, repainting rusty furniture pieces, and adding attractive plants or flowers, along with some new rugs or throw pillows.
Work with the best
The process of selling one of your most important assets, your home, is so much easier with the assistance of a top real estate professional. Mark Thompson, one of the area's premier realtors, has over 41 years of experience in the real estate business.
When it comes to homes for sale in Rankin County, MS, and the surrounding area, Mark maintains a keen awareness of the expectations of today's buyers as they search for their dream property. In turn, Mark is able to offer his expert advice to homeowners who want to develop the full potential of their property and receive the best possible offer.
When you're ready to work with the best, give Mark Thompson a call!
*Header photo courtesy of Shutterstock
