In today’s economy it is important that you put your best foot forward if you are trying to sell your home. If your home is not in tip top shape when it hits the market it will definitely take longer to sell and buyers will expect a discount of some sort. I spend a lot of time counseling and educating my sellers on what they need to do to prepare their home to sell for top dollar in a short amount of time. As I am sure you have heard that real estate is all about Location, Location, Location, but in today’s economy condition and appearance is becoming more important to selling you home.
5 things to do before selling
- De-clutter, Organize, & Clean: In my opinion this is the single most important thing that will make you home stand out above the completion. The key to mastering this part of the process is to think like a buyer would. A buyer doesn’t want to see your personal touches and family pictures all over the home. They want to be able to come in and visualize their things in the home. Try removing all small decorating items and large pieces of furniture that make the room appear small. Have a few accent pieces around but not a lot. Repaint any extremely custom walls or rooms a neutral color. Don’t think you can get away with stuffing things in the closet because buyers look there too. Clean out garages, closets, and kitchen cabinets as well.
- Enhance the Curb appeal: Pretend you’re a buyer and stand outside of your home. As you approach the front door, what is your impression of the property? Do the lawn and bushes look neatly manicured? Is the address clearly visible? Are pretty flowers or plants framing the entrance? Is the walkway free from cracks and impediments. Are there weeds that are out of control? The curb appeal of a home is what sets the buyer’s first impression of the home and you as a seller. If the curb appeal looks terrible they may not even come in the home. The buyer may also assume that the home has been poorly maintained on the inside. Spend a weekend before you put you home on the market cleaning up the curb appeal
- Order a Home Warranty: Did you know that you could have the buyer pay for a home warranty on your house, but you can have coverage during the listing period? The beauty of this is that if anything major breaks during the listing period the Home Warranty will cover the cost to fix it. Also some home warranties allow for some of the inspection items to be taken care of through a home warranty claim. If you are not familiar with this check out American Home Sheild
- Get replacement estimates. Do you have big-ticket items that are worn our or will need to be replaced soon, such your roof or carpeting? Get estimates on how much it would cost to replace them, even if you don’t plan to do it yourself. The figures will help buyers determine if they can afford the home, and will be handy when negotiations begin.
- Find your warranties. Gather up the warranties, guarantees, and user manuals for the furnace, washer and dryer, dishwasher, and any other items that will remain with the house