Several years ago, you may have been renting an apartment and dreaming of owning your own home. A few years later, you were a first time home buyer. Now, after some truly wonderful years living in your home, you are ready to sell - maybe you’re a newlywed or your family is outgrowing the home or you're relocating for a job. Whatever the reason, you want to list your home for sale, but you do not know anything about selling a home.
Similar to my First Time Buyer Tips post located HERE. Let’s begin with some tips to help you get ready to sell.
1. De-Clutter. Reduce the amount of personal items around your home and anything that you can live without for a while. Donate it. Pack it. Whichever you choose. The goal is to make your home look more open and make it easier for prospective buyers to picture themselves living there. Bonus: You'll have a head start on packing for moving day once your home sells.
2. Fix the Little Things. You know those items on your “Honey-Do List” that you keep saying you’ll do and then you push it off until next weekend? Take the time to fix them. Don’t worry about those huge projects that will take a lot of time and money. Focus on the little things - tighten a bolt, fix a squeaky door, replace cracked outlet plate, etc. - quick and easy items.
3. Paint. You don’t need to paint every room in the house. However, if there is a room in need of a fresh coat of paint or rooms with bold colors, paint those rooms with a neutral color. A gallon of paint can go a long way in improving the look of your home to prospective buyers and may even add some value.
4. Clean. Remember when you were a kid and your parents were having a party? You were tasked with helping to clean everything from the baseboards to the ceiling fans to all the windows? Your mom wanted the home spotless. Clean like that. Buyers will understand you are still living in the home, but a deep clean will make your home appear well maintained.
5. Interview Real Estate Agents. It is true that you can try to sell your home on your own and avoid paying a real estate agent. However, on average, using an agent usually results in a better price because an agent knows the market well and will be able to help you price your home to sell. Further, an agent is likely to be able to bring qualified buyers, market the listing professionally, and save you time. There is more to selling a home than just putting a sign in the yard, so instead of getting overwhelmed, hire an agent to do all the work for you. During your listing appointment, ask the agent about their marketing plan, sales history, and tools and technology they use to assist in selling your home. Interview a few agents then choose the agent that feels like the right fit for you.
These five steps will start you down the path, and you will be ready to list your home as soon as you have chosen your real estate agent. Stay tuned for future posts with tips of what to do once your home is listed.
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