Selling your house is one of life’s most anticipated transactions. It’s only natural to want to get the most value out of an asset that’s supposed to last at least 70 years.
As terrifying as the house-selling process can seem, it’s often in the seller’s best interest. It’s necessary to move into a new stage of your life. Whether you’re switching cities, have kids going to college, or just need the extra money to put toward retirement, selling your home can help you get there.
So how to prepare to sell your house? Here’s what you need to consider before you even begin looking at offers or talking with potential buyers.
To start, make sure you’re in good standing with your mortgage lender. If that’s not the case, reach out to your banker to talk about getting back on track.
Next, make a list of everything that needs to be done before you put your home up for sale. This will help clarify what repairs and improvements need to be made and how much time they’ll take—so you can factor them into your selling timeline and budget accordingly. Here are some things that should be at the top of your list.
Decluttering helps potential buyers see how much space there actually is in the home. A well-organized area can create an impression of coziness and comfort, which will do wonders for the property’s perceived value.
To declutter your home, start by throwing out any trash and recycling items that are no longer useful or important to you. Then work on sorting through the important stuff.
Get rid of any clothing that doesn’t fit or that you haven’t worn in years. You’ll tidy up your closet space and make room for the new owner’s garments.
Items like books and games can be donated or sold. Save any money you earn from selling your old things; this will be useful later on for minor home repairs.
Your house will be more appealing to buyers if it’s not filled with your intimate photos and memorabilia. Remove these items as soon as you can so the new owners can imagine their own life in your home.
Be sure to throw away antiques you no longer like or use. These items have sentimental value but don’t add much to the price of your home. Having them around can make selling a home even harder than it already is, as many potential buyers feel that vintage heirlooms detract from the beauty and function of real estate.
Start by washing all those windows! Most people skip this step because they don’t realize how much it can improve the look of a home.
You don’t have to hire someone to do this either. Buy some window cleaner from your local hardware store, put on some gloves, and get cleaning.
If you have hardwood floors, vacuum them (and maybe even give them a good waxing). Then make your way through each room, cleaning out closets and wiping down baseboards. Dust shelves and light fixtures as you go along.
The bathroom should also be spotless. Scrub away stains from the toilet bowl with a brush and some cleaner. Ajax or Lysol Toilet Cleaner is perfect for this task.
Staging is a way to make your house look like a model home. Some people leave their home empty to make it look like a blank canvas; others choose select pieces to show off the best features of each room.
The latter is the better way to stage your home. Buyers can imagine themselves in the space and get a feel for what it would be like to live there.
When picking furniture, choose neutral colors. Lighter shades, like white and cream, make a space look bigger.
Keep furniture arrangements simple. For example, a bed and a dresser might be all you need to stage a bedroom.
Looking at the housing market will help you determine a realistic asking price. It’s also an easy way to decide whether it makes sense to list your home at all. If the housing market is down, you may want to hold off on selling until the market improves.
Look at local housing trends on real estate websites like Nik Sir Realty or Zillow. The real estate agents there will give you an idea of how much homes have sold for recently and how long they’ve been on the market before they sell.
Pay special attention to homes that have a similar size and style as yours. That way, you can get an accurate picture of what kind of price range would be appropriate.
The house-selling process is much easier if you have a real estate agent to help you through it. They’ll do everything—from finding buyers to negotiating the price with them. If you’re looking to sell your house quickly and get top dollar for it, this is probably the best way to go.
A good realtor will also give you advice on how much time it will take before they can find someone willing and able to buy your home. They have access to data that isn’t available to the average Joe, so they can give you a clearer picture of how things work.
Asking how to prepare to sell your house can be a difficult question. It’s overwhelming to think about all the things you have to do.
To make the process easier, make a list of everything that needs to be done for your house to be ready for sale. Once you’ve got your list together, prioritize it based on what needs immediate attention (e.g. cleaning) versus what can wait until later (e.g. staging). Then, use our home improvement articles to find the best way to do each task on your list.
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