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One of the most challenging experiences in life is selling a house. You may think that staging a property to sell needs a great deal of money, professionals, removing a few walls, and installing brand-new flooring, furnishings, and décor if you watch the most recent DIY show.
However, that's not the case!
You need to attract customers right away from the street. Moreover, you'll want to close the deal once they're inside your house!
Several preparations you can make before listing your house take very little time and money.
1. Research, Research, Research!
Do your research on the market value of your house first. Start by browsing different online realtors to learn more about the neighborhood housing market. Then, to determine the right listing price, look at recent comparable properties in your area. Examine the square footage, amenities, and locations of the various comps and consider how they measure up against your house. For instance, even though your neighbor's house may have gone for $1 million, you will probably need to market your property for less if it is significantly smaller. Of course, a trustworthy realtor must be able to help you identify comparable properties and choose a selling price for the house.
2. Declutter Your Home
According to the National Association of Professional Organizers, individuals spend at least a year in their lives searching for lost things.
This won't happen if we simply decluttered our homes, and only kept things in regular use.
Start decluttering your home a few months prior to listing it. You may notice that you're storing a lot of goods that you could immediately dispose of or re-home if you consider your children's toys and artwork, old washroom toiletries, and piles of mail.
Neat property with spotless floors and counters appears welcoming in listing images and, tempting purchasers to present you a solid offer.
Well, decluttering isn't exactly a glamorous task. For example, if you have various boxes of rubbish or significant pieces of furniture to get rid of, you might want to make plans for dumpster rentals.
To get going, take these actions:
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● Reduce the number of items on floating shelves, mantles, and walls that are on display. Sports memorabilia and trinkets should be removed, and family photos should be kept in a secure location.
● Sort through the old mail, papers, pens, and notebooks that have been piling up in the dining as well as home office. Do not keep sensitive papers you any longer require; shred them.
● Put away seasonal things like the Thanksgiving roasting pan along with tiny equipment you don't frequently use, such as the Air Fryer.
● Get some plastic storage containers for your toiletries. Utilize them to conceal your daily makeup, toothbrushes, hairbrush, and other items by keeping them in bathroom cupboards.
● Go through the bedside and throw away the body lotion and extra stuff. Hide your midnight reading and sleeping necessities in the area. Just leave a lamp perched atop.
● Remove spoiled food from your refrigerator and pantry.
● Consider donating the extra clothes in the closet.
3. Deep Clean Your Home
You must establish a program of frequent cleanings and fast sprucing-ups prior to buyers stopping in for visits. This will keep your home tidy and neat, and won't take too much time and effort.
Regular cleanings are especially crucial if you intend to remain in your home while it is on the market for sale, which is what most sellers do.
Deep cleaning should be one of your top priorities before putting your house on the market because it will make these activities much simpler. However, to avoid having to cope with a messy home later, pay attention to these sometimes-overlooked areas:
● Dust your ceiling fans. To finish the task, use a stool or ladder and disinfectant spray. Replace your rag with a pillowcase for stopping dirt from spilling on the floor.
● Clean the interiors and doors of cabinets and closets. Cobwebs in the corners can be removed using a microfiber duster.
● You can use a sock attached at the end of a broomstick and a band to clean in the nooks behind appliances. Vacuum up any debris.
● Use the vacuum cleaner's brush attachment to clean the baseboards. Apply a sponge soaked in lukewarm water with dish soap after that. Clean any unclean corners using cotton swabs.
● Think of other parts of the house that need cleaning and start there right now.
4. Get Maintenance Work Done
Before listing your home, you should discuss with your realtor and consider your budget when deciding whether to do costly repairs, including changing a 30-year-old ceiling.
Did you know that renovating your entire home would cost around $45,000 to $75,000?
Now, renovations won't cost this much if homeowners simply did necessary maintenance work.
To ensure that everything's in excellent working condition before potential buyers arrive, you might begin doing minor repairs all around the house.
For instance, consider this:
● If it has been over a year, get the HVAC serviced.
● Patch up the drywall's holes.
● Replace all the air filters.
● Change out any burned-out light bulbs.
● Check to see if the panels close and open properly and fix any that don't.
● Fix the water heater or the faulty faucet.
● Ensure that the essentials, including large kitchen equipment and the bathroom fixtures like toilets, bathtubs, and showers, are in good working order.
5. Gather All Your Renovation Documents
If you've been in your house for a while, there's a good chance that you will have all documentation and receipts for improvements and repairs to your appliances, little and large renovations, and fireplace and HVAC maintenance. Gather those right away so that they are prepared for your house inspector, property appraiser, and realtor.
The National Association of Home Builders say that the two most prominent areas homeowners renovate are the kitchen and bathroom. If you've also renovated these areas, make sure that you keep the renovation documents and receipts. Moreover, keeping your home in top condition with renovations and spruce-ups will likely increase the curb appeal and value of your home on the block.
Buyers view your home as "old" and question how soon they'll need to fix or replace something, like a huge appliance, if they're purchasing a brand-new building. Therefore, you need to put yourself in the buyer's shoes and think about the things you would replace or renovate. Once you have an idea of the places or devices you want to replace or renovate, make a list of them. Of course, you would keep in mind your budget for the renovations while doing this. However, just remember that these renovations pave the way of improving your property's value.
You may knock tasks off a buyer's to-do list and increase the appeal of your house if you can show that you have already invested the time and expense necessary to improve it or maintain it in top condition.
6. A Pre-Sale Inspection Might Be Good for You
Even though you might think you know your house like the back of your hand, there might be problems lurking that you aren't aware of. Therefore, consider getting pre-listing house inspection to learn about any issues before the buyer's assessment, so you aren't taken aback after accepting an offer.
If you're worried about unattended maintenance or major problems that might be hiding, the inspection will set you back an equivalent of $339. However, it can bring you peace and relieve your stress.
Discuss with your realtor about selling the house "as is," and even think about asking for an upfront cash offer in case you don't have the money to pay for the repairs upfront.
7. Get Your Preliminary Title Report
The preliminary title report, sometimes known as "prelim," is a brief report that informs you, the sellers, of any remaining issues with your home before you list it for sale. It is a preventative report, to put it another way.
You won't be allowed to sell your house until the lien has been paid off, whether it relates to failure to pay child support, HOA dues, delinquent real estate taxes, another lender, or another issue.
8. Find A Realtor
In relation to real estate agents, we strongly advise hiring one to advertise your property. Through referrals from friends and family, as well as many realtor websites on the internet, you can easily find a realtor. Interview the listing agent you are considering hiring regarding their expertise in your community, their relationships with possible buyers, and their knowledge of social media. The agent needs to be able to provide you with a carefully thought-out plan for selling your house.
It's important to begin that research as soon as you can because title difficulties can take some time to fix.
A Final Word
Listing your property for sale can be overwhelming. However, going step-by-step in the process will help you stay on top of your schedule while keeping your peace of mind.
Don’t be discouraged—we know there is a lot to consider. That’s why our team at JS REALTOR® Team is so committed to serving our clients. We want to make your experience one that preserves the excitement but sheds the anxiety. We provide clear guidance and advice to help you make the right decisions. Download our FREE planning kit and connect with us today! Let’s get ready to sell your home.
