Selling a house is no easy job. There is a lot to think about when it comes to analyzing property conditions and listing your home on multiple listing services. Once you’ve decided to sell your home, it can take some time to prepare it for sale.
This article will guide you through how to prepare your home to sell to ensure a smooth and successful process. Check out our entire guide below.
Connect With A Realtor
One of the first decisions you’ll make when prepping your home for sale is whether or not to engage a realtor. A qualified real estate agent may provide useful insights into the local property market, recommendations on listing prices, and help you navigate the selling process.
Choose a realtor with a strong track record in your area, as they will have a thorough awareness of buyer preferences and market trends.
Before hiring a real estate agent, conduct thorough interviews to ensure they can effectively represent your interests.
Identify And Tackle Necessary Repairs
Your home’s condition will obviously affect its value, therefore repairs are an important element of preparing a house for sale. Employing the services of an appraiser or professional home inspector can allow you to accurately assess the condition of your home and any necessary repairs.
Home repairs for the roof, foundation, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC system might be significant red flags for potential buyers. Not to mention that the longer these repairs stay on hold, the more expensive they will be to replace in the future.
To avoid property damage and optimize your asking price, schedule necessary house repairs ahead of time. Small obvious flaws can potentially jeopardize your ability to sell for top price.
Homebuyers are naturally drawn to residences with exceptional upkeep. When a home shows signs of neglect or neglected care, buyers are more likely to see it as a burden. Even a leaky faucet may make a terrible impression.
Consider hiring a professional realtor to assist you in prioritizing less pressing issues.
Declutter And Deep Clean
Home sellers should try to avoid showing their properties with crammed closets, cramped furnishings, or mounds of clutter on worktops. Deep cleaning your home is an excellent place to start. To establish a clutter-free home, remove non-essential household goods such as excess furniture or winter clothing and hire a storage facility.
If you continue to live in your house during tours, it may be difficult to remove all belongings. However, you may declutter and rearrange your furniture, clothing, shoes, and other household stuff.
If you plan to sell your property during a specific season, consider hiring professional cleaners. They can complete less evident or time-consuming jobs such as cleaning air vents, air conditioner filters, and gutters.
Focus On First Impressions
Homeowners do not always need to spend a lot of money upgrading their homes. In certain circumstances, focusing on curb appeal—the appearance of your property from the street—may be sufficient to pique a buyer’s interest.
Landscaping is an important factor in determining a home’s curb appeal. Small jobs like mowing the lawn, pruning the bushes, or repainting your home’s exterior can quickly and affordably increase your home’s curb appeal.
Other areas to consider are entranceways, front doors, fencing, driveways, and walks. Make sure to repair any major or cost-effective cracks or damage. Finally, ensure that the outdoor space has adequate lighting.
Consider High-ROI Upgrades
Preparing a home for sale will take more time and money if you want a high return on investment (ROI). You may need to consider high-ROI home improvements.
Real estate consultants suggest that kitchens and bathrooms are the two most important rooms for selling a home. However, the choice of modifications is ultimately up to the homeowner. When unsure about which home improvement will benefit you the most as a seller, prioritize bathroom and kitchen renovations. Make sure not to overpay on upgrades that will not provide a reasonable return.
Home improvements with high ROI include:
- Minor bathroom renovation: Minor bathroom upgrades include replacing a bathroom vanity, installing new light fixtures, and moving from a conventional shower head to a rain shower.
- Minor kitchen renovation: Replacing obsolete equipment with energy-efficient solutions is one way you might undertake a little kitchen overhaul. Instead of replacing old cabinets, consider refinishing them with paint or glass. This, along with new gear, can have a significant impact.
Stage
When discussing how to prepare your property for sale, we cannot overlook the importance of staging. Although it is an additional and upfront cost, staging may make your house stand out and allow potential buyers to visualize themselves living there.
Furniture arrangement and room layout are crucial considerations. You can do it yourself or have someone else do it for you. Whatever choice you choose, opt for open-concept designs that position furniture against the walls to optimize space. The larger the space, the better.
Improve Marketability
Preparing your home for sale is important, but showing your efforts is also important.
Whether you engage with a listing agency or not, you can successfully sell your property.:
- Providing wonderful property photos: Taking high-quality shots with your smartphone or hiring a professional will instantly improve your home’s online appearance.
- Highlighting your home’s main features: Work with your realtor to highlight your home’s distinctive characteristics, such as a large backyard, an upgraded kitchen, or a fantastic location. Consider employing professional photos or virtual tours to make your home stand out online and attract more buyers.
- Having flexible schedules for showings: Allowing open houses to occur when you are unavailable. This will help you get to your closing date much faster.
- Reviewing your property’s online presence: Checking to see if the photographs of your home on Google Maps show any recent changes you’ve made. If not, highlight the changes in your property listing descriptions.
Get Your Documents In Order
Gather important documents such as mortgage information, property deeds, and tax records. If you’ve made large modifications or changes to your house, keep receipts and permits on hand, as potential buyers may request them during negotiations.
Having a copy of the insurance on your home, utility bills, and warranties for appliances or significant systems in the home is beneficial.
Getting your documentation in order early simplifies the selling process and fosters trust with potential purchasers.
Final Thoughts
Home sales with poor strategy and execution may rapidly become a pain, costing you a significant portion of your return on investment. Creating a strategy and patiently ticking off items on your house sale checklist will help ensure a smooth process and that all important issues are addressed.
Consider using your home equity to help with selling costs, which can be a hard component of the process.
Also Read: Buyer’s Guide: Your Home Inspection Checklist
FAQs
How Much Does It Cost To Sell A Home?
A variety of factors influence the final price of selling a home. To begin, a home seller is normally required to pay 5 to 6 percent of the purchase price to cover Realtor commissions. Then there are closing charges, which vary greatly depending on the state and the transaction amount. In addition, sellers may be required to pay unpaid property taxes, attorney fees, and other expenses.
What is the ideal time to sell your home?
The optimum time to sell a house is usually in the spring or early summer when buyer engagement is at its peak. Warm weather and longer days enable more homebuyers to visit open houses, and families with children often choose to relocate over the summer. However, this may differ based on your local market. In some locations, fall may also be a popular selling season.
How Much Should You Spend Getting Your House Ready For Sale?
Plan to spend 7-10% of your home’s sale price on selling costs. The cost of selling a home varies, but common charges include broker commissions, closing costs, and possibly repair or staging fees. Closing costs can range from 1-3% of the home’s purchase price and may include title insurance, attorney fees, and transfer taxes. Furthermore, if you invest in repairs or staging to boost your home’s visual appeal, those costs can add up.