Getting your house ready to sell involves several steps and considerations prior to putting it on the market. You should do an objective assessment of your current situation and research the competition. You should also discuss with, your agent, Denise Mai the most cost-effective improvements that can increase your home’s value, such as painting, landscaping, replacing the front door… If your home has serious issues, such as an outdated roof, you may need to decide if it’s worth it to pay for a major project. You should declutter and sell or donate items you don’t need and move or store the items you want to keep. You should also address any repairs that you’ve been putting off, such as fixing leaks, fences, or holes. Finally, you should deep clean your house to make it more appealing to potential buyers.
If you need to sell your home quickly, consider only the short-term improvements to both the interior and exterior of your home. And if this is the case, be prepared to have some flexibility on sale terms and conditions.
A little preparation will go a long way in getting your house to sell quickly and for the best price. Just like showcasing products in a store, or displaying a new car, you need to display your home in the most appealing way for all potential customers.
Here are some pre-listing preparation and best-selling tips:
- Decluttering: This is your first step, and it can be a daunting task for anyone who isn’t a minimalist. Decluttering your home means pulling all unnecessary items from shelves, closets, cabinets, table tops, counters, and other surfaces. You want your home to look simple with tasteful décor and well organized. When a home is clutter-free, buyers can focus on the home instead of the excess stuff.
- Depersonalize Your Home: Though it may pain you, it’s always best to remove personal items like photographs and personal collections from your home. You want your house to be a blank canvas which potential buyers can picture their decorating style, their furnishing and their future home.
- Move or Temporary Storage: Where do you put your personal effects and the items you want keep? If you are unable to immediately move all of your personal effects into your new residence, then rent a temporary storage unit before selling the home. This will give you a safe and secure place to store all of your extra stuff when staging and showing the house, in addition to facilitating home inspections.
- Cleaning: First impressions mean a lot. Everyone loves walking into a clean, fresh smelling home. Deep cleaning, which includes interior and some exterior cleaning, is extremely beneficial. If it’s affordable, hire a professional cleaning company to get your home in the best shape possible.
- Curb appeal: The exterior attractiveness of your home is the first impression the buyer has of your property. Having a well-kept lawn, well-maintained landscaping, and fresh-looking paint is a great way to make an attractive first impression.
- Contractor and Handyman: When getting a house ready to sell, you should have a contractor or handyman. Make sure anything and everything that needs to be fixed (i.e., leaky faucets, running toilets, cracks or holes in the walls, broken appliances, squeaky doors, etc.) is fixed before listing a home. Otherwise, buyers may think your home hasn’t been taken care of, which can be a turnoff for many.
- Painting: If your home is painted in bold colors, you should consider repainting your home in neutral colors. Stick to whites, light grays, light beiges, or colors between beige and gray. These shades will make your home appear bigger, brighter and more welcoming. If it’s affordable, hire a professional painter. As an alternative, the do-it-yourself option will cost you paint, supplies, and your time.
- Renovations: If your home needs renovations and it’s in your budget, renovations most often increase your home’s value. Adding a half bath or remodeling a bathroom, upgrading your appliances, and refinishing a deck are reasonably small projects that can make a huge impact. Finishing the attic or basement to add more living space will add value and increase the sales price. However, if you are looking for a quick sale and faced with time constraints, then you want to hold off on major renovations and try simple improvements, such as decluttering, repainting, and fixing obvious issues. Contact Denise Mai and review the most cost-effective improvements to achieve top-dollar sales value.
- Staging: Staging your home can help it sell faster and for more money. You can stage your home with your belongings, with or without the help of a professional. For your home to stand out, it has to feel like home to a potential buyer; you simply want the buyer to visualize the property as a future home.
- Photography: Getting quality real estate photos and having video home tour attracts more buyers and tends to sell for higher prices. Buyers want to know as much as possible about a home before they go see it. Keep in mind that your real estate agent typically facilitates quality photography, so before putting it on the market, make sure you discuss this with your agent.
A lot of effort goes into buying a home. Buyers look at countless home listings and make split-second decisions whether to move on from our home, or move forward and see it in person. For your home to stand out, it has to feel like home to a potential buyer.
