So its time to sell your house, it can be difficult for you to know where to start. For many people, this is a very stressful time. after all, buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial decisions most people will ever make.
According to a survey by the U.S. Census Bureau, the average person will move house just under 12 times in a lifetime so its important to make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible. One of the biggest things that you can do to make sure the selling process goes smoothly is to make sure that your home is ready to sell.
So what does this mean? Well, there are a few essential steps that you need to take before you have potential buyers walking through your home and if these things are not taken care of it can be a big turn off for the buyer. Let’s review these steps.
Clean And Declutter Your Home Before Selling.
Often times when you have lived in a home for a while you tend to let things pile up in your home. But when it comes time to sell you will need to remove this clutter from the home. This will not only maximize your space but will also help the potential buyer to be able to see themselves living in the home.
Declutter.
While you are removing the clutter it is also a good idea to remove any personal items from the house such as family photos or any other decor items that aren’t neutral. This may seem insignificant but will make a big difference in the long run. The easier that you make it for potential buyers to envision themselves in the house the more likely they are to buy.
Closets are also a very important factor for most buyers so you need to make sure that they aren’t crammed full of stuff. It may be a good idea to rent a temporary storage unit to keep some of your extra stuff while you are selling the house.
Clean.
Now that you have cleared the extra clutter from the house its time to get it clean. This cleaning needs to be more than your average Sunday afternoon cleaning. This is a deep clean of all the places in your home that you don’t normally get to.
Most of this you will be able to do by yourself but some jobs may require the help of a pro. Items such as deep cleaning of the carpets may be better off if handled by a pro.
This may seem like an overwhelming process so it may be helpful to make a list. Then just start with the most important things and make your way down the list making sure that you leave no stone unturned.
Make Necessary Repairs Before Selling Your Home.
If you have lived in your house for a while its possible that you have some repairs that you may have neglected but before you list your home for sale you need to address these repairs. Having unrepaired issues in your house is a big turn off for most home buyers.
Essential Repairs.
If you aren’t sure what repairs to make you might want to consider getting a home inspection. This may cost $200-$600 but will be well worth it to avoid running into any holdups down the road. The inspector will come to your house and do a thorough inspection of all of the majors in your home. If there are any issues you can address them before you list your home for sale.
If for whatever reason you are unable to make these repairs You have another option. You can reduce the price so that the next owner is able to make the necessary repairs. Note that some prospects may not want to deal with these repair and will lose interest in the property.
Cosmetic Repairs.
Once you have taken care of all of the essential repairs you may also want to make cosmetic updates. This is a step where you can really do as much or as little as you want to. You can ask your realtor for advice on where to spend your budget to get the most return.
An experienced agent will tell you what updates will increase the value of your home and what updates are better off left to the next home buyers.
Staging Your House.
Now that your house is decluttered and in good working order. It’s now time to stage your house. In this step, you’re going to be preparing your home for pictures and showings.
A 2017 National Association of Realtors (NAR) survey says 49% of buyers’ agents believe staging affects most buyers’ view of a home. And 77% of them say it’s easier for people to visualize a staged home as their own.
A general rule for staging a house is to remove about ½ of your furniture. This will make the rooms in your house appear larger and more open. This can be difficult because you are still living in the house but will pat off big once your house is listed for sale.
Most people think staging is just about the furniture but it’s much more than that. Lighting is one part of staging that is often overlooked. You can have the nicest house on the block but if your house and pictures are dark it will push away many of the prospective buyers. The goal is to make your home as bright as possible so opening the blinds and installing brighter bulbs is recommended.
Don’t forget to stage the outside. You will never get a second chance to make a good first impression so make a good one.
- Power-wash your house and walkways.
- Make sure your house number is easy to read.
- Mow the lawn.
- Trim overgrown greenery.
- Plant flowers.
- Clean your windows
Take Great Pictures.
According to the 2014 National Association of Realtors, 90 percent of buyers start their search online. When looking for houses online all they can see is the pictures. If your pictures are bad 90% of the prospective buyers will see that.
Many real estate agents will encourage you to hire a professional photographer. However, if that isn’t in the budget you can always do this yourself. There are all kinds of resources online on how to take the perfect picture of your home. Remember in this case more is better, you can’t have enough pictures of your house.
Conclusion.
Although selling your house can be difficult, following these steps you can minimize some of the drama that comes with selling a house. If this process seems overwhelming there is another option.
Sell Home Maverick will pay cash for your house and close in as little as 7 days. You don’t have to worry about making repairs or staging your home because we’ll buy your house AS-IS. Just call and schedule an appointment and we’ll come and make you a no-obligation cash offer. We will also take 120 high-definition photos so if you don’t like our offer you can keep those photos to market the house on your own. So don’t wait call now!