Before putting your home on the market there’s a few things you can consider to even better the chances of selling. Being prepared and dedicating the lead-up to the sale date to cleaning & organizing will increase your chances of seeing a sold sticker.
1. Find a reputable real estate agent
Before you do anything, it’s recommended to find and hire a real estate agent. An experienced agent will be able to provide advice on the current housing market and when the best time to sell is, as well as provide you with tips for preparing your house to sell. Doing it yourself may seem easier but having the help of a professional who has had experience selling properties in your local area will save you a lot of time and money. Do your research and select a few notable agencies in your area, and then interview them. You should ask them any question you may have and judge them on how easily and honestly they answer.
2. Declutter your home
Decluttering may seem daunting and tedious, especially if you’re still living in your home prior to selling it. If you have no area to store your unwanted belongings, consider hiring a storage shed. The key to decluttering your home is to get rid of items, objects, or even furniture that may distract buyers from seeing what they are getting in your home. Your goal is to make your home inviting and allow buyers to see the potential each space offers them. So be sure to rid of any personalizations and store them away for safekeeping. Pictures, books, toys, mementos; the piles may seem endless! So, think about getting the family together or enlisting the help of a friend or even a professional cleaning service to make the task easier. Devote a weekend or two to cleaning and sorting and aim to present your home in it best possible light. Your goal is to stage your property and make buyers see the best features of your house.
3. Secure and maintain your property
Perform a thorough check of your property’s interior and exterior to look for anything in need of repair or maintenance. Don’t ignore or neglect small items such as a ripped fly screen or faulty door locks. Write a checklist of everything you come across that needs repair and devote a day to having these issues tended to. You’d be surprised at the negative effect a loose doorknob or tear and scratch marks has on potential buyers. Pay special attention to these details and make a note of anything such as squeaky drawers, leaky taps, or walls missing paint.
4. Enhance curb appeal
The concept behind ‘curb appeal’ is that the first thing potential buyers will see of your home is how it looks from the street. Maintaining a neat and tidy looking exterior generally makes people believe that the interior will be just as well-kept and inviting. Perform your own assessment by going out on the street and observing your home as if you were from a passer-by perspective. Is there anything that can be improved upon? Does the fence need paint? Are the lawns in good condition? Is the garden and entryway presentable? Investing in small changes such as planting colourful flowers or pressure-washing the driveway to rid of any oil stains will improve your home’s overall charm and beckon buyers to come in.
5. Pre-listing inspection
Once you’ve made some improvements and updates, consider getting your home inspected by an experienced home inspector. A pre-listing home inspection is usually paid for by the home seller or selling agent and involves a qualified inspector writing a report on the condition of your property and uncovering any concerns which might compromise a sale. In many cases having a pre-listing inspection will uncover problems that may have been overlooked. An inspection benefits all parties involved with the sale of your home and can be a powerful marketing tool. Your inspector and agent will provide an objective review of your home before listing it for sale and heighten its chances of being sold.
The home selling process can be very easy with the right preparation. It’s a good idea to follow these steps at least a couple of months prior to listing your home so that everything is ready and in top condition. You only have the one chance to make a good impression, so make sure that you are doing everything you can to present your home in a way it entices a potential buyer to want to make an offer.
