After years of making memories in your home, you’re ready to sell it and want to do it right. Here are a few things to do when you are getting ready to sell your home so that you can optimize value, save time and money, and attract the right buyers for your beloved home.
Declutter
The first and more obvious benefit to decluttering is that it will make packing and moving much less of a hassle. The other benefit is that buyers love to see space and storage. The more space, the better.
To start, my suggestion is to get moving boxes, storage bins and trash bags. Start with one room at a time and divide things up between things you’re keeping, things you’re donating, and things that need to be thrown away. Stay focused on one room or area at a time, otherwise you may become distracted or overwhelmed.
After you’ve completed each room, label the boxes, tape them up and store them. If you have a garage, it’s perfectly fine to keep your boxes in there (neatly stacked, ideally). Potential buyers will want to get a peek, but having boxes in there won’t be an issue. You can also rent a storage unit, or ask a friend or family member to store things for you until you move.
The key to decluttering is pretending that this isn’t your house. Ask yourself what looks cluttered? What is taking up too much space? Do I have any personal items that may not appeal to most buyers?
Find a realtor
Your realtor should be there to guide you through the process of selling your home. They will give you instructions and advice for getting ready to sell your home, and will be a point of contact and a resource for you. Find someone that understands your wants and needs, who picks up the phone, answers your emails, and never leaves you hanging.
Ask friends and family for referrals. Check out your local brokerages and remember, don’t just settle. Selling your home is a big deal.
We can also refer you to some amazing realtors. Contact us at (253) 327-1177.
Check out this article for tips on choosing the right realtor.
Get a Home Inspection
While there is no requirement for a home inspection, it is highly recommended that you get one. It will give you a good idea of the condition of your home and will give potential buyers information about the condition of the home that might not be so visible to the eyes of most people. Your property can look great online or even in person, but even if it looks like it’s in great condition, buyers will definitely want to know if everything is working as it should and if there are any major issues that need to be addressed. Don’t waste your time making too many repairs to your home before the inspection. The inspector will point out what needs to be repaired, which will save you time and money.
Once you get the inspection report back, go over it in detail with your realtor. They will be able to advise you on which items are worth fixing and which ones are not.
Make Repairs and Upgrades
You’ll want to make repairs that actually pay off. While that may seem obvious, it needs to be said because too many sellers spend time repairing things that don’t matter all that much. There is no need to spend time, money and stress on repairs that won’t end up benefiting you.
In order to understand which repairs are worth making, you can refer to your home inspection and recommendations from your realtor. Some of the things you may want to consider fixing to get ready to sell include the following:
Air conditioning
Furnace
Water heater
Foundation issues
Mold and leaks
Electrical problems
For those small things that might need repairing, walk around your house as if you were a buyer. What would be an inconvenient but necessary fix? If it’s not necessary or would likely be addressed with larger remodels, don’t bother.
Paint
You should almost always include painting on the list of things to get your home ready to sell. If your home isn’t a fixer-upper and hasn’t been painted recently, then it’s probably a good idea to paint it with neutral colors that can give potential buyers a clear vision of the space. Depending on the last time you painted, you may only need to do touch-ups. Take a walk through your house and determine if the paint is chipping significantly or if there are larger areas that will need a full coat. If there are many larger areas needing a full coat, you may want to paint the entire interior.
Painting the exterior is usually recommended if your paint job is extremely old or if your exterior color is something that isn’t that common. If not, you’re probably okay to keep your exterior paint as is.
Boost your curb appeal
First impressions are important. Boasting your curb appeal before selling can make a great first impression on potential buyers and get them in the door to look further at the home. Buyers' emotions are often a determining factor for their decision. Here’s how you can improve curb appeal when selling your home:
Plant various plants and flowers or higher a landscaper to do so
Apply mulch to garden beds
Remove any debris or large items
Clean windows
Power wash the driveway and walkways
Paint trim
Clean your gutters
Manicure/edge your lawn and any trees or hedges
Upgrade/replace lighting
Paint your front door
When you make a great first impression, you make buyers want to find out more.
Getting prepared and taking the time to do things right can take the stress out of the selling process. It is important to find a realtor who can help guide you along the way, who will be there to help with these things and offer expert advice. Contact us today for a referral.
(253) 327-1177
vip@pennylanefinancial.com
Source:
https://www.soldnest.com/blog/how-to-get-house-ready-to-sell/