12 STEPS BEFORE LISTING YOUR HOME
Are you preparing to sell your home? Then it's time to roll up your sleeves and get down to business! After all, selling a house entails a lot more than putting a "For Sale" sign on your front lawn and posting a few random images of your home—especially if you want to get the most money.
Before we put your house on the market, go through this list of items you need to do to get ready. Some of these suggestions are surprisingly simple, while some others can take a little more effort. However, once buyers start drooling over your home and hopefully provided a strong offer you can’t refuse to sell your home.
1. Real Estate Agent
Do you think you should sell your house yourself and save the money you'd spend on a real estate agent? It's tempting to give in, particularly in a hot market, but resist the temptation. It has been discovered that a "for sale by owner" transaction is almost always a catastrophe, causing you to lose both money and time. Don't just recruit the real estate agent who just gave you a flyer or the one your family relatives or friends recommended. Conduct some research to find a real estate agent who is knowledgeable about your area, and then interview them to ensure that they are a good match.
Your real estate agent should be someone with whom you feel at ease and who you can trust to sell your home for the highest possible price. Before choosing a real estate agent, don't be hesitant to voice any questions.
2. Curb Appeal
Yes, buyers do prefer to judge a book by its cover, for better or worse. You want to make sure that prospective customers have a favorable first impression of your home, one that invites them to come to an open house or arrange a tour so they can learn more.
The exterior of your house will attract potential buyers to come in by putting some effort in relatively simple repairs, such as planting colorful flowers and repainting your front door.
If you're not sure how to boost the curb appeal of your home, talk to me about how people in your neighborhood have changed the exterior before selling their homes.
3. Declutter
When it comes to having your home ready to sell, less is certainly enough. Clean counters, window frames, tables, and all other noticeable areas first, then move on to closets, drawers, and cupboards behind closed doors, because practically nothing is off-limits to curious buyers.
Buyers will be concerned that the house would not have enough room for their belongings if it is crammed with things. They won't take out a mortgage if they think they'll have to pay for storage as well.
Donate your unwanted items or box them up to be stored off-site. Clearing clutter will not only make your home more attractive to customers, but it will also assist you once you've accepted an offer and are ready to move into a new home. It would be easier to move out if some of your belongings have already been packed.
4. Personalize
What's the next on your to-do list? Sellers should eliminate any potential distractions so that buyers can see themselves and their families living in the home. Personal objects and family pictures, as well as bold artwork and furniture, should be removed, as they could make the home less attractive to the general public. The aim is to provide a blank canvas for buyers to paint their own dreams of living and loving in the room.
5. Repaint
You might adore the orange accent wall, but if it's the least favorite color of your potential buyer, it could be a turnoff. You're pretty secure with a neutral color because it's unlikely that anyone dislikes it, but a light color often helps (buyers) to imagine what the walls will look like with the color of their choice. It is the seller's responsibility to assist buyers in envisioning themselves in the home. They'll probably look at other real estate opportunities if they don't feel at home.
6. Touch Up
If you aren't repainting the whole house, pay particular attention to scrubbing and then touching up baseboards, walls, and doors to make the house glow and look well-maintained. Selling any home can be challenging, but selling a home with many minor issues and maintenance needs can be downright difficult.
Buyers want to fall in love with the house as they step into an open house or take a home tour, not add a bunch of minor repairs to their to-do list. Clean up your home before putting it on the market to attract potential buyers (and sell it quickly). A home that has been renovated and is ready to move into would likely attract more attention, and you might even receive several offers.
7. Fixing
Yeah, it's a minor detail, but you'd be shocked how much of a negative impact a broken lightbulb or a loose handle can have on a buyer. It can cause them to pause and wonder, "What else is broken here?" Submitting an offer and then agreeing to a mortgage is a major step for a buyer. When it comes to selling your home, you don't want to leave any doubt in the minds of potential buyers.
8. Plants
Note that green is good when staging your home: Plants build a brighter, more inviting atmosphere. On the kitchen counter or dining table, consider setting a bouquet of flowers or a bowl of fruit. Plants and natural elements will add color and life to your décor, which will attract buyers.
9. Smell test
Often mild foul odors can be a deal breaker, and the problem is that you might not even be aware of them. I suggest bringing in an external consultant to sniff your kitchen for any pet odors or residual odors.
Prepare to do some deep cleaning if the odors are intense, as many customers are aware of sellers' "filtering strategies," such as candles or plug-in room deodorizers. Furthermore, covering up odors with a stronger fragrance could backfire if the buyer dislikes the scent of lavender or artificial citrus.
10. Clean
Clean some more after you've finished cleaning your home. Even if you aren't concerned with what potential buyers will think about your home's smell, you want it to be spotless. Consider this: you'll almost definitely have professional photographs taken of your home when it's in its best shape. Naturally, you'll want your home to look just like the ones in the photos.
When selling a home, it's important to have things in order for potential buyers, because you never know when a buyer would want to arrange a last-minute tour. Remember to polish the tile, counters, tub, and floors in the bathroom.
11. Valuables
Keep your valuables out of sight, either locked up or kept off-site, from paintings to jewelry. Once you're trying to sell your home, you can't trust anyone who comes in. Things can go missing during an open house, and there's not anything the seller can do to get them back. Make sure your valuables are hidden or moved to a secure location away from your house.
12. Staging
The trick is to hire a specialist to stage your home. Home stagers will assess the current state of your home and its contents to decide what elements would lift the bar. They may suggest that you purchase or rent those things, or they may simply reorganize your items and bookshelves in a new or better way.
Since stagers are experts in the real estate market and what sells, it's important to listen to their advice and not take offense when they make major adjustments. Their role is to pique potential buyers' attention, which is always good news for the seller.
FIND OUT HOW JOSE WILL SELL IT FOR YOU TODAY.