Preparing Your Home to Sell

Preparing Your Home To Sell: 12 Things To Do Before Selling Your House

Are you preparing to sell your home? There are a ton of things to do before listing your property, so it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get to work.

After all, if you want to get the most money, selling a property requires much more than simply placing a “For Sale” sign on your front yard and uploading a few random pictures of your home.

Check out this list of things to do before selling your house before putting it on the market. Some of these suggestions are surprisingly simple, while others could need for a little more work. But once buyers begin oohing and ahhing over your place—and perhaps ponying up a fantastic offer—they’re bound to pay off.

1. Find a great real estate agent

Do you believe you can sell your house on your own and keep the money you would have spent on a real estate agent?

Even more so in a busy market, it may be enticing, but resist the urge. Our research has shown that “for sale by owner” transactions are virtually invariably a waste of time and money. Finding a quality real estate agent is one of the most crucial things to do before selling your home because of this.

Having said that, you shouldn’t just blindly select the real estate agent your uncle’s friend’s coworker’s cousin used or the one who most recently sent you a flier. Find a real estate agent th at is informed about your particular market by doing some research, and then interview her to see if you click.

You should feel at ease interacting with your real estate agent and have confidence in their ability to get top money for your home. Before choosing a real estate agent, don’t be hesitant to speak with several of them.

2. Consider your curb appeal

Buyers do, for better or worse, frequently base their decisions on a book’s cover. You want to make sure that prospective buyers get a positive first impression of your home and are motivated to attend the open house or arrange a tour so they can see more.

The outside of your home can entice potential buyers to come inside by making an effort with relatively simple changes like planting vibrant flowers and repainting your front door.

Ask your real estate agent for suggestions on how others in your neighborhood have changed the exterior before selling their homes if you’re unsure how to increase the curb appeal of your home.

3. Declutter living areas

When preparing your home for a showing, less is definitely more.

Clean up the counters, windowsills, tables, and all other exposed places before tackling the spaces behind closed doors, such as closets, drawers, and cabinets—since almost nothing is off-limits to enquiring purchasers.

Buyers could worry that the home won’t have enough room for their own goods if it is packed to the gills. If they believe they will also need to rent a storage unit, they won’t agree to pay a mortgage.

Take your extra items and donate them, or pack them up and put them elsewhere. Getting rid of clutter will benefit you once you’ve accepted an offer and it’s time to move into a new house as well as make your home look more inviting to potential buyers. If you already have some of your belongings packed, moving out will be simpler.

4. Depersonalize your space

What’s the following item on your to-do list for selling a home? In order for buyers to see themselves and their family residing in the house, sellers should take away any distractions.

He advises sellers to take out any sentimental items, such as family photos and bold artwork, as well as any furniture and décor that can detract from the property’s curb appeal. The intention is to leave buyers with a blank slate so they can imagine how they would like to live there.

5. Repaint walls to neutral tones

Even while you may adore that orange accent wall, it might not be the buyer’s first choice if it is.

The other advantage of using a light hue is that it enables potential buyers to see how the walls might appear with the color of their choosing, he notes. “You’re quite safe with a neutral color since it’s unusual that someone hates it,” he says.

The seller must assist consumers in visualizing themselves living there. They’ll probably look at other real estate possibilities if they don’t feel at home.

6. Touch up any scuff marks

Even if you aren’t completely repainting the house, you should take extra care to scrub and then touch up the baseboards, walls, and doors to make the property glisten and appear well-maintained.

Selling a property can be challenging in almost every situation, but it can be especially challenging if the house has numerous minor issues and need minor repairs. Buyers want to fall in love with a property when they visit an open house or take a home tour; they do not want to add a long list of minor fixes to their to-do list.

Fix up your home before placing it on the market to attract buyers and sell it quickly.

A home that has been renovated and is ready to move into will likely draw greater interest and possibly receive many offers.

7. Fix any loose handles

Even though it may seem insignificant, a customer can be adversely affected by a loose handle or a missing lightbulb.

It can cause them to pause and wonder, “What else is broken here?

Making an offer and later agreeing to a mortgage are significant steps for a buyer. You don’t want to leave any potential purchasers with any doubts about your home’s suitability as a home when you’re trying to sell it.

8. Add some plants

Keep in mind that green is helpful when presenting your home: Plants make an area feel lighter and friendlier. You could also want to think about placing a fruit bowl or bouquet of flowers on the dining room table or kitchen counter.

By adding some more color and energy to your décor, some plants and other natural components will wow potential buyers.

9. Conduct a smell test

Even tiny unpleasant smells can ruin a sale, and the difficulty is that you might not even be aware of them.

We advise bringing in a neutral observer to check for any pet odors or residual kitchen odors.

If there are strong odors throughout, go ready to deep clean because many buyers are aware of sellers’ “masking strategies,” which include using candles or plug-in room deodorizers. Additionally, if the buyer dislikes the aroma of lavender or synthetic citrus, masking odors with a stronger scent could backfire.

10. Clean, clean, clean

Clean your home once more after you’ve finished. Even if you don’t care what potential buyers would think of the smell of your house, you still want it to look pristine.

Consider this: When your home is in its best condition, professional images will likely be taken of it. Naturally, you’ll want your home to consistently resemble the images.

You should always maintain your home clean for potential buyers when it’s on the market since you never know when they might want to schedule a last-minute viewing. Keep in mind to give the bathroom extra attention, ensuring sure the tile, counters, shower, and floors sparkle.

11. Hide valuables

Keep your possessions hidden, whether they are works of art or jewels, by locking them away or storing them elsewhere.

Even when you’re trying to sell your home, you can’t always trust the people that come in. There isn’t much a seller can do to recover items that have disappeared during an open house. Be careful to conceal your valuables or to relocate them to a secure location outside of your home.

12. Consider staging

Your home might be from 1985. Nothing revitalizes a home like some brand-new furniture or a carefully selected mirror. The secret is to hire a pro to stage your home.

Home stagers will assess the existing state of your home and its contents to identify any items that could raise the bar. They might provide recommendations for things you should buy or rent, or they might merely rearrange your bookshelves and trinkets in a completely different (and nicer) way. It’s crucial to follow stagers’ suggestions and not object when they make significant modifications because they are knowledgeable about the real estate market and what sells. They have the responsibility of encouraging interest from prospective purchasers, which is always excellent news for the seller.