Nobody wants to accept an offer on their home that undercuts its value. A home is a large investment, and a seller wants to see a substantial return on investment. Even if your home is not worth very much, you’ll want to squeeze every last penny that you possibly can. You don’t have to be a savvy real estate mogul to command a high asking price. These tips should help you maximize the offers you get:

Take Care of Repairs

Your home won’t easily sell for the same sum as your neighbor’s if your property is in serious need of repairs. Determining which repairs to make and whether or not they’ll be worth it is very important. Some repairs, like a new roof, are nearly worth their weight in gold. A new roof offers substantial return on investment, and it’s worth spending a few dollars to make much more. So when investigating potential repairs, make sure you’re only pursuing those that will leave you in surplus after everything has been completed.

Stage Your Home

Staging doesn’t seem like it would make a huge difference, but the results can be unbelievable. Oftentimes, staging is as simple as removing personal touches from your home. Taking out clutter and family photos will allow potential buyers to better envision themselves living in the home. Color is also crucial – you might think your lime green kitchen is the coolest thing in the world, but buyers may find it off-putting. Select the right neutral shades and throw on a few coats of paint.

Become Well Versed in Real Estate

The world of real estate involves a surprising amount of nuances and subtleties. You may benefit from taking some online real estate courses. These courses will always be valuable – even after you sell your home. You can use the skills you learn on the home you’re trying to sell right now, as well as any homes you may decide to sell in the future. Having the knowledge that a professional has will help you act like a professional.

Skip Commissions

If you have a thorough understanding of the real estate market, there’s no need to seek the help of a third-party professional. Real estate agents can charge massive commissions, and a seemingly small 6% commission on a $200,000 property equates to handing over $12,000 to someone else. There’s no reason to do it if you feel competent enough to handle the process on your own. You’ll walk away with thousands more in your pocket once you decide you’re ready to go it alone. This also gives you more capital to work with when looking at future real estate investments.

Be Willing to Wait

Price cuts add up fast. Once a house has been on the market for a while and offers have been underwhelming, you may feel tempted to sell at a price cut. This happens sometimes – it’s a natural result of the real estate climate. But rather than getting impatient and taking a large cut, hold out for as long as you can. You may need to make some small cuts along the way, but reduce the price very gradually. You never know when the right buyer will come along, and that person may be willing to pay thousands more than the listing price. You should only come down in large amounts when maintenance costs on a property are starting to become problematic. Wait for as long as you can afford to.

It’s important to remember that economies fluctuate, and this has a large impact on the real estate market. Not every home sale will result in a massive profit, but there’s always next time. Every property you sell without taking a loss is a success. Remain optimistic, and learn from your experiences!