Are you getting ready to sell your home?
If so, it’s time to get to work. Selling a home requires a lot more than simply putting up a sign that says “For Sale”. Prior to putting your house on the market, you should follow this small checklist to prepare.
Find a Good Real Estate Agent
If you think you can sell your home yourself and get all the cash in your pocket, then why would you want to pay for a real estate agent?
In a hot housing market, selling a home on your own can be tempting. However, we recommend resisting that urge. “For Sale By Owner” transactions can be quite dangerous and don’t do so well most of the time, especially for those that don’t have any real estate experience.
However, it is equally important to find the right real estate agent. Make sure to conduct some research and find an agent that is knowledgeable about your particular market.
Consider Your Home’s Curb Appeal
Buyers tend to judge a book by its cover, for better or worse. A buyer’s first impression should be one that inspires them to look a bit deeper. To increase the curb appeal of your home, there are some relatively easy fixes you can make.
If you’re unsure where to start, make sure to speak to your real estate agent to get some advice.
Declutter the Living Space
When it comes to showcasing your house, less is more. Make sure to clean your tables, windowsills, counters, and any other visible surfaces. Tackle any spaces behind closed doors as well, including cupboards, closets, and drawers. Nothing is off-limits for curious buyers.
Buyers might worry about ample space if things are overflowing. If they think they might also have to rent out a storage space, then they will be less inspired to pay for a mortgage.
Depersonalize the Home
One of the next steps on your list should be to remove any distractions in the home. A prospective buyer should be able to visualize themselves living there.
To help with this, sellers need to remove any personal belonging, such as artwork, family photos, or knick-knacks, all of which might not appeal to the average person.
Your main goal should be to create a blank canvas on which prospective buyers can project their own futures.
Repaint Your Walls
Not only should you touch up any bad paint jobs, scuff marks, or stains, but you should also take once-bold walls and return them to a neutral state. You may be in love with your bright blue accent wall, though bright blue could easily be your buyer’s least favorite color of all.
Sharapan Fabrikant of Realtor.com says that, “you’re pretty safe with a neutral color because it’s rare that someone hates it, but the other benefit is that a light color allows [buyers] to envision what the walls would look like with the color of their choice.”
Selling a home doesn’t need to be difficult, though it is important to have a checklist so you can keep everything in order.