10 THINGS TO DO BEFORE LISTING YOUR HOME!
Being prepared to sell your home will set you up for a successful sale
1. DE-CLUTTER EVERYTHING!
Big surprise here! I’m sure you’ve heard this one however it’s important. Prospective buyers want to see how much SPACE you have, not how much STUFF you have. Remove items that you don’t use every day to give the appearance of more space. Fold towels, sheets, and blankets neatly so that your space appears organized. This also applies to storage spaces, the extra bedroom, shelves, and any other areas that buyers would see. The kitchen counters need to be cleared off other then the coffee maker. Remove any magnets/pictures that on your refrigerator. Take out half of what is in your closet and store it in bins. You want to give buyers the idea that they can have an organized space and easy living if they purchase your home.
2. REFRESH! TIME TO DO SOME SPRUCING UP
Does the front door need a fresh coat of paint? Do windows need washing or do you have torn window screens? Is the carpeting in shabby shape? There are plenty of inexpensive ways to refresh your home to look more appealing. Take care of thee minor things prior to listing your home.
3. CHECK YOUR LIGHTING
The lighter and brighter your home is, the better! Your home will show best with lots of light. Are your light fixtures looking outdated? Maybe it’s time to swap out some of those brass fixtures for something more modern to update the look. A bonus tip for increasing natural light is to remove your window screens.
4. DE-PERSONALIZE
Buyers want to imagine themselves living in the home. If your home is covered with photos of your family, kid’s trophies, sports memorabilia and artwork, it will be harder for buyers to imagine their own family living in the home. Leaving one or two pictures up is okay buy keep most of the home neutral and free from family photos.
5. PRE-LISTING HOME INSPECTION
The often-dreaded home inspection doesn’t have to be a deal breaker. If you have a home inspection prior to listing, you will be aware of any major repairs that you could take care of before putting your house on the market. This will help reduce the risk of a buyer walking away or having to reduce the price to accommodate a repair that comes up during the buyer’s home inspection. Think of all the potential headaches you can eliminate by being ahead of the game. In the long run, the cost of the home inspection will be minor compared to the potential alternative when you’re in the middle of a transaction.
6. WHAT LIFESTYLE DOES YOUR HOME CONVEY?
Is your house made for entertaining? Do you have a relaxing sunroom? Is your floor plan desirable to a certain lifestyle? Take advantage of showing these features off and highlighting what will attract a buyer to the lifestyle your home is made for!
7. GET YOUR CURB APPEAL ON POINT!
Clean up the weeds, put out a new welcome mat, remove the cobwebs, add potted flowers to your front step, and retouch the paint on your shutters and front porch. The exterior is going to be the buyer’s first impression, make sure it’s a good one!
8. HAVE A PLAN FOR WHEN YOUR HOUSE SELLS
If you are going to be buying a new home when yours sells, make sure you talk with a lender and know your options. Do you need your house to sell in order to buy the new house? Is there a timeframe that you’ll have to stick to? Make sure you have all of these answers and share them with your real estate agent before listing your home for sale.
9. MEET WITH A LOCAL REAL ESTATE AGENT
This may sound obvious but it is so important to find a real estate agent who is going to be a good fit for you. A few things to keep in mind when looking for your real estate agent are: their communication style, their social media savviness, and their negotiating techniques. Designations and sales rankings are great but that isn’t going to directly reflect how they do business. You want someone who will work well with other agents, who has a determination to see the transaction through closing and will be honest with you about their recommendations for pricing and staging.
10. RELAX! THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO DO
The last thing you want to feel is stressed. Take one step at a time, pour yourself a big mug of hot coffee (or whatever your drink of choice may be) and take a deep breath. Following this list and choosing the right real estate agent will set you up for a smooth and less stressful transaction before the for sale sign ever goes up!
Rene Hauck , RE/MAX Agent
Your real estate listing specialist!
