So, you have made the big decision to sell your home and move house? Congratulations! However, before you rush to get that sign-up and compile a real estate listing, remember some crucial things must get done. Keep reading to find out what they are.
Educate yourself on the value of the home you are about to sell
One of the most important actions you can take before you place your home on the market is to do some research on its value. In particular, this means comparing your property to the others in the neighborhood located around it. Be aware of not only these other properties’ selling prices, but also their condition, the standard of finishes, and square footage as all of these factors will have a considerable impact.
Decide how you will go about selling your home
Before anything else, you must make a decision on how you will go about selling your home. Usually, for homeowners in the US, this means choosing between having a real estate agent handle things for you or opting to go for an FSBO or “For Sale By Owner’ approach.
Of course, before you can make this decision you will need to know as much about both options as possible. For example, it is worth noting that while FSBO is an option the vast majority of people choose to have their home sale managed with a realtor.
However, what draws some people to the FSBO, a choice you can use this helpful guide to better understand is the money they can save when it comes to commissions. After all, if you have others managing the sale for you, they will expect a cut for their hard work.
Make a plan B in case of a property chain
Another issue that it is imperative to consider before putting your home on the market is what you will do if, for some reason, the property chain finds itself in breaks. The sad truth of the matter is that this is something that happens all the time, and when one homeowner or buyer pulls out it can have serious consequences in terms of delays and broken deals for everyone else involved.
With that in mind, having a plan B on the table and ready to go can negate a lot of the stress and worry of being part of a chain. For example, you may find that the home you are hoping to buy will not be ready at the same time as your buyer needs to move into your property. However, by having a plan B such as renting storage and living with relatives for a month, you can prevent the chain from breaking, and so get the price you want for your old home, and secure the new property you want as well.
Do a deep and thorough clean
Once you have your plans for selling in place, it’s time to direct your attention to the more practical tasks that need completing around the home. The first of these should be a deep clean, which means getting into all the nooks and crannies, under the beds, and in the corners that you usually miss.
There are several reasons why a deep clean such as this is vital. The first of these is that it helps to banish any nasty odors that could be lingering and will put potential buyers off when they come to view your property. In fact, you may also want to invest in some professional cleaning especially of rugs and carpets as these are known to be the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and smells.
Secondly, you will want your home to look as good as possible for the photos you will need to add to your listing, and being clean is a major part of this. Finally, by doing a really deep clean first you will be able to easily see what work needs completing around your home to ensure that it sells fast and for the right price.
Make repairs
Indeed, following on from cleaning, it is likely that you will find there are some things in your home that need to be repaired. Be on the lookout for leaking faucets, locks and doors that stick, and anything else that would give the wrong impression to potential buyers.
When it comes to larger repairs or replacements you must use your common sense. For example, replacing your dated kitchen may be too expensive, but you could repaint or change out the cabinet doors to give the space a more modern look for much less money. After all, kitchens do tend to be a deal-breaker when it comes to selling homes, so at least some investment here is usually a good idea.
Improve your home’s curb appeal
As well as perfecting your home on the inside before you put it on the market, you must pay the outside some attention as well. Of course, this means boosting its curb appeal. After all, the very first thing potential buyers will see when visiting is the outside of your home.
With that in mind, ensuring any paintwork, both on the outer walls of your house, and the woodwork gets a fresh lick of paint. Dig over bare flower beds and add some new plants, preferably with blooms too, as this can make a huge difference to the feel your home gives off. Finally, be sure that pathways, drives, and the sidewalk outside your home are clean and in good repair, and don’t forget to clean out your gutters, as dirty rainwater running down the side of your home is not going to impress anyone!
Give the walls a lick of paint
It’s not just the outside walls of your home that will require a lick of paint before you put your property on the market. It can be a very smart idea to do this inside as well, especially if you currently have less common, or very bright colors. In fact, wherever possible use a neutral, light tone such as magnolia as it will make the rooms in your home look larger, cleaner, and brighter.
Banish your clutter
Many people think that dealing with clutter and personal possessions is something that they only need to worry about once their home is sold and it comes time to pack.
However, this is not the case because such items can seriously and negatively impact the likelihood that your property will sell. The reason for this is because buyers like homes they can easily imagine themselves living in, and too much clutter, and even too many personal artifacts such as photos and knick-knacks can put them off.
Indeed, clutter, that is things everywhere, and not stored neatly away can make even a large property feel small inside. In fact, even too much storage can significantly shrink a room, and make it seem a lot less spacious and desirable to anyone looking around.
Invest in a storage unit
Finally, the last thing that you need to do before putting your home up for sale is to invest in a storage unit. After all, all that clutter you got rid of in the stage above needs to go somewhere!
Of course, the best-case scenario is that you donate or sell the items you no longer want. Although, many people use a storage unit as a place to keep personal items they will be taking to their next home, as well as larger pieces of furniture. The latter being removed to create the best sense of space and flow in the property, while also allowing the owner to keep it for use in their new home.
