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Whether you are selling your home to upgrade, downsize, liquidate an investment property, or anything in between; preparing your property for the market is essential to maximizing profit. Effective preparation will enable an easy sale that will reduce both your time on the market and your stress level. By addressing things like minor repairs/updates, curb appeal, who you choose to represent you as a real estate agent, and the marketability of your home, you can ensure that you’ve put yourself in a prime position to capitalize on your most valuable asset.
Let’s Make Some Improvements
Preparation is key. A great way to increase value and prepare your home for the market is to
address any minor home improvements that are low cost, or possibly even no cost. There are plenty of options; touching up paint, updating trim, replacing old electric receptacles, updating door/cabinet hardware, upgrading light fixtures, recaulking bathrooms, the list goes on. We are not trying to reinvent the wheel in this stage or become professional home flippers, just get things in functional, working order, and improve aesthetics a bit.
First impressions are critical. Think of curb appeal as the potential buyer’s first impression of your home. What homebuyers will see when they’re pulling in the driveway and walking up to your front door has a huge impact on the initial evaluation of your home. First impressions will set the tone for their experience as they begin the tour of the inside, making curb appeal one of the most important aspects of preparing to sell your real estate. 61% of homeowners want to make a good impression on their guests and neighbors while 58% derive a sense of pride from their home’s exterior curb appeal. Landscaping, exterior lighting, tree trimming, maybe a new mailbox, re-gravelling your driveway if needed, pressure washing siding, sweeping off your sidewalks/porch; all of these tasks will make your home stand out and that’s exactly what we want.
Choose Your Representation Wisely
Seek out the experts. This may be the most important step; hire a reputable realtor that you can trust to get the job done. We’re talking about selling your most valuable asset; work with a realtor who will go above and beyond to optimize your experience and maximize your sale proceeds. Marketing is wildly important to successfully selling your home, and your realtor will be doing all of it so don’t compromise on quality. Experience, industry knowledge, market insight, trustworthiness and personability are some key factors to look for. A great realtor will help you prepare your home for the market, coordinate professional photography, create a compelling listing description, negotiate on your behalf to meet your
transactional needs, and get you to the closing table stress-free.
Lean on the experts. Choosing not to use a Real Estate Agent at all may cost you, according to Orchard:
Ask questions, ask for advice, treat the experience as if you had no knowledge of the process and let your agent guide you through from start to finish. This is what they are there for and what they specialize in. For those updates/repairs we mentioned earlier, lean on your realtor to provide insight as to which options will be the most beneficial before selling your home. You’ll be paying them a small portion of your proceeds, don’t be afraid to make them earn it.
Clean, Pack, and Then Clean Some More
Presentation drives results. Cleaning and decluttering your home before listing it is critical. When buyers walk through on their showing you want them to feel comfortable and enthusiastic picturing themselves living there. Cultivating an inviting environment free of clutter and unnecessary mess will go a long way. Thoroughly clean the place and if cleaning isn’t your thing or you don’t have the time, hire a professional service for a quick, pre-listing clean-up.
Multitasking enhances efficiency. While you’re already decluttering, take that as an opportunity to get started on the packing process. There is no such thing as packing too early. Moving personal belongings to storage, getting rid of things you no longer need, going through closets, junk drawers, basement storage, donating unused items; these are all useful tools in helping you declutter your home for showings and also to help with packing for the move. Optimize the environment so that buyers you are marketing to are eager to submit an offer on your clean, organized, and inviting home.
Let’s Tie it All Together
Selling your home doesn't have to be a taxing process. A little preparation and reliable representation can go a long way. Despite the strong seller’s market over the last few years, it is still vital to put yourself in a position to capitalize on the sale of your home. Work with a realtor that you trust and that you know will take great care of your most valuable asset, finish up those last-minute repairs and updates to maximize your home’s value and optimize curb appeal, and clean like you were having your celebrity crush over for dinner. Take care of these three steps before you list your home for sale and you will be playing chess while the competition plays checkers.
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Sources:
· Orchard