If you're ready to sell your house, then it's time to get to work! Putting your house on the market takes a lot more than just sticking a "For Sale" sign in the front yard and adding some photos on the internet. Before you go through the entire process of listing your home, complete this checklist to get yourself better prepared. Some of the tips are simple and some of them will take a little more energy, but they all will help out tremendously when it comes to impressing buyers!
Hire a great real estate agent.
Selling your home without a real estate agent is almost always a recipe for disaster. It's important to interview agents that can list your home at the right price, maximize your home's exposure to potential buyers, are experts about your community, and have strong negotiating skills.
Also, we would be thrilled to be interviewed if you need any help!
Make a great first impression when a buyer pulls up.
You never get a second chance to make a good first impression, and that counts for your home too! Buyers might be less likely to check out the rest of a house if the outside is unappealing—even if the interior is stunning.
If you’re looking to sell your house, a few inexpensive changes to your home’s exterior could help make the process smoother. From being able to sell faster to add greater value to the asking price.
Clutter will leave buyers with a bad taste.
Cleaning is an important part of that process! From ceiling fans to baseboards there is so much to clean when you’re moving out.
To help out further, we wrote a blog about cleaning tips before selling your home. Read the 9 tips here.
People don't want to see your family photos.
Don't get me wrong, that photo of your dog that is sitting on the mantle is probably cute, but it makes it difficult for potential buyers to vision themselves in the home. Your goal should be to create a blank canvas for the buyer to create their own ideas.
Remember, neutral is better.
You may have loved that mural you painted as an accent wall when you first moved in, but you can easily lose a buyer as soon as they see it. Play it safe by painting your walls with light neutral colors. It can allow the buyer to envision what colors they may change the walls too.
Make all your handles nice and snug.
This is a small fix, which is good for you, but you would be amazed how impactful it is to tighten your handles on any cabinets. Outside of that, look for small fixes like changing light bulbs or removing scuffs on any objects around the house.
Plants bring life into the home.
Adding some house plants will create a welcoming feeling for buyers. Place them in inviting areas of your home such as the kitchen and living room.
Smell test your home.
Even the slightest sense of an odor will have buyers wanting to leave your home as fast as possible. Seriously, this can be a huge deal break on whether or not you get an offer. If you want to make sure all is smelling well, invite over a third-party guest to give you a little smell test.
Hide anything valuable to you.
Make sure you hide anything you have that is of value to your or your family. This can include jewelry or art. It's best to lock it up or take it off-site. Better safe then sorry!
Staging makes all the difference.
If your house looks like it is straight out the 80's, it's probably best that you find a professional staging to spruce things up.
Let us help you get started.
There is no need to feel overwhelmed with the selling process. We can get you moving in the right direction.
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