Here are important things you should do before selling a house. It’ll help sell your house quicker and improve with resale value.
Make repairs
Now is the time to fix all of those nagging things that you just lived with. Inside the house, look for things like stained ceilings, missing tile, broken windows and doors, heavily scratched floors, and other signs of neglect. Outside, look for broken or missing shingles, patio pavers, and tuckpointing. If you have a deck, check for cracks in floorboards and loose railings. Make a list of everything you see and then decide which things you’re going to tackle. A real estate agent can be very helpful in determining what needs to be done and what doesn’t.
Finish projects
Every homeowner has at least a couple of ongoing projects that never seem to get finished. Now is the time to finish painting the guest room, install the ceiling fan you bought last summer, and stain that beadboard you put up in the pantry.
Create curb appeal
It’s important that your home makes a good first impression. When potential buyers drive up to your home, you want them to think, “Wow! I could live here!” To make sure buyers want to see the inside of your home, make sure the outside is well-kept, tidy, and inviting. It’s important to touch up or completely repaint trim, keep the grass cut, edge along footpaths and paths, maintain flowers and shrubs and keep the yard tidy. You never know when curious buyers will drive by.
Declutter
Resist the urge to roll your eyes at this one. It is imperative that your home looks liveable. Potential buyers may not be able to see past your clutter. Think of it this way – don’t move things you no longer want or need. Make decisions now and your house will sell faster and your move will be easier. It’s no secret that getting started is the hardest part of decluttering. Take one room, or even part of one room, at a time and dive in. Recycle or shred paper. Donate books, toys, clothing, and duplicate household items. If you’re getting frustrated and you can’t deal with one more stack of papers or shoebox of old photos, put them in a plastic tub, label the tub and stack it somewhere out of the way. A stack of tubs doesn’t look like clutter.
Think neutrals
If you decide to do some interior painting, stick to neutral colors. You’ve heard it before, but it’s the truth. Neutrals don’t distract and they allow potential buyers to imagine their things in your home.
CLEAN!
This may be the most important step you take toward getting your home ready to sell. For a home to live up to the “move-in condition” description, it has to be clean. If you already keep a clean house, simply keep up the good work, checking to make sure you don’t overlook little-used wardrobes and other nooks and crannies that aren’t part of your weekly routine. This needs to be a deep cleaning. For the rest of us, it’s time to get serious. Start at the top (the attic or second-story rooms) and work your way down. Clean ceiling light fixtures first, scrub walls and woodwork, and finish with floors. As you work your way from top to bottom, don’t leave one area until it is completely clean and then move on. Don’t drag dirt from one area back into the place you just cleaned. Finally, don’t underestimate the power of clean windows. Buyers won’t walk in and think, “Wow, clean windows!” But, freshly cleaned windows look great from the outside and with the lights on, they sparkle on the inside.
Rearrange your furniture
Your furniture is arranged the way it best suits you and your family. When you’re staging your home to sell, you’ll need to use your furniture as marketing tools to help create inviting vignettes. Avoid having furniture lined up along the walls. Pull the sofa away from the wall and pull chairs close to create a conversation area. Also, you may need to remove some furniture so it’s easy for people to walk around in the rooms. If you’ve toured display homes and had the feeling you could move right in and live there, that’s what you’re going for.
Buy fresh flowers and plants
If the weather allows, plant flowers in pots, window boxes or right in the ground to add color and pump up the curb appeal. Pay close attention to the plants, keeping them watered and trimmed. Inside the house, fresh flowers in vases add color, life, and the feeling that you, as the home seller, are putting your best foot forward. It may not matter to some buyers but others will appreciate this detail and take it as a sign that your home has been well cared for.
Create a welcoming entryway
If your apartment doesn’t have a proper entryway, create your own. Use a padded bench and hang some hooks for coats, or build simple entryway storage and organizer to keep clutter at bay.
Upgrade lighting
If your lamps and other light fixtures are outdated, consider replacing them with modern ones. Buyers don’t want to feel like they’re taking a step back in time with outdated fixtures. This is an easy fix that will help sell your home.
Fix pet issues
Did Fido leave a stain on the living room carpet? Does the basement smell like a cat’s litter box? Address these issues before potential buyers visit the home. Pet smells are serious turn-offs when trying to sell your home.
Wash the exterior
If your house has cladding, carefully use a pressure washer to clean the exterior. Also, make sure the windows are clean and the gutters are clear before you try to sell your home.
Get a home inspection
Before trying to sell your home, hire a home inspector. While buyers usually have the home inspected, have an inspection prior to putting the home on the market. This will make you aware of any potential issues that may come up during the sale.
Fix fencing
A fence adds value to your property. If your wood or chain-link fence needs a little TLC, be sure to take care of any repairs before trying to sell your home.
Roof repairs
Few things turn away buyers more quickly than a leaky roof, so address roof repairs before trying to sell your home. If your roof needs serious work, be ready to negotiate a lower price with buyers.
Fix cracks
Fix any cracks in the driveway, walkway or patio. This will help increase your home’s curb appeal and will surely help you sell your home.
Remove wallpaper
If you have wallpaper or a mural in your home, get rid of it. Then, give those walls a fresh coat of paint in a neutral color before attempting to sell your home.
Update hardware
If the knobs or handles on your kitchen cupboards or drawers are outdated, update them. It’s a cheap upgrade that will give your home a more modern look and will help sell your home.
Clean fabrics
Clean or wash cushion covers, quilt covers, and pillowcases to ensure furnishings look tidy and well-kept. To make your home look cozier, add a few decorative pillows. If fabric-covered furniture is outdated, remove it or cover it with a neutral-color slipcover.
Luxuriate the bathroom
The bathroom can be a highlight of a house and when putting a home on the market, sellers should make it shine. A soaking tub can be the perfect place to unwind for a potential buyer. Make a bathroom feel like a spa.
Prepare the paperwork
Obviously the better prepared a seller is for a home sale, the easier it will go. That being said, don’t forget to have all the paperwork for the house organized and ready to go. Some of the paperwork that a seller will need includes deed, homeowners insurance information, loan information, property tax statements, appliance warranties, title report, purchase agreement, and any other information regarding the property.
Research agents
It’s never a bad idea to get a second opinion when trying to find a real estate agent. Many people work with the same agent they did on an earlier deal or use someone recommended by a friend or relative. Make sure to talk to others who have worked with an agent, you might be surprised what you find.
