6 SIMPLE TIPS TO GET READY TO LIST YOUR HOME AND SELL FASTER #02
CONGRATS! You have decided to get ready and list your home. Whether your moving for a job, downsizing, trying to make extra cash or for any reason. You have made the decision to sell your home. Whatever the reason is, you should consider these tips and it just might help you sell your home faster.
1. DECLUTTER
I know this might be upsetting to some because it requires extra work. But you are going to pack when you move anyway, right? So it's not a bad idea to get a head start.
Decluttering your home by getting rid of or storing any of your unneeded items will help your sale. Buyers need to envision themselves living in your home and most likely the buyers will have a different taste than your family. Consider taking down and hiding any personal items (pictures, kids artwork, medication, tooth brushes, clothes hampers, shoes, jewelry) and storing them in cabinets, your garage or a storage unit. Other items include cat litter boxes, unused or damaged furniture, posters, refrigerator magnets, calendars, loose paperwork, dog cages (move in/out before showings), plastic over furniture, doll or collections of any kind, etc. The less stuff you have in your home will make it easier for your buyers to imagine their life in your home before they buy. This topic is one the best tips I can mention to you, that is not only necessary but also economical.
2. DEEP CLEANING
After decluttering your home, make sure to give your house a nice deep cleaning. A clean home makes the buyers feel warm and comfortable. A dirty home may make them think the home isn't worth as much as it is. The idea is to also increase the perceived value of your home by making it appear to be well taken care of.
You can hire someone or do it yourself. It is up to you how you want to do it. When I say deep cleaning this is what I mean-clean or replace the carpet, polish the hardwood or steam the stone floors, wipe the oily dirt off of light switches, clean shows, bath tubs, toilets, wipe counter tops, wipe window seals, even scrub the tile and tub, consider re-caulking the tub and dirty tiles. Wait, there's more... Also, consider wiping down all mirrors, windows, shower doors, dust, dust on plants, and dust on air vents.
After you are done, take a deep breath because the hard part of the cleaning is done. All you need to do now is maintain the cleanliness until you the home sells before showings and open houses.
3. YARDWORK
Some homes don't have a yard or are maintained by the community HOA or by your yard care professional. If that is you, go ahead and skip to the next one.
Yardwork goes hand and hand with the 'curb-appeal' of your home.
The first thing people see is the front of your home and yard. So the chances of them going into your home is increased depending by the level of maintenance that has gone into it. If the yards are overgrown, weeding, malnourished and unkept, a buyer may not even get out of the car, as they may think it reflects the inside of the house.
The yard goes hand-in-hand with the feeling or vibe the home gives the buyer. If the yards are overgrown or flowing with weeds, and/or full of leaves be sure to pull the weeds, rake and mow the yards once a week. Try to repatch the dead parts in the grass or reseed it. If that doesn't work, consider to replace the dead patches with sod. For homes with the more of the Arizona (desert style) yards, make sure weeds are pulled, the plants are watered and the dirt is raked. For both yard styles, fill in any potholes. If you have outdoor animals, it is helpful to keep the droppings picked up and properly disposed of. If you have filthy concrete driveways, walkways or stone. You may want to consider pressure washing them to bring them back to life.
Keep your yards maintained and it just might help you increase the number of buyer that will walk through your home. The more people that walk through your doors, the better the chance you will have multiple offers.
4. MINOR REPAIRS
You might find that your honey-do-list has been postponed due to a busy lifestyle or other life events. That's okay, however, some buyers may feel the need to knick-pick every defect they see. Their agent may be even more knick-picky, as they are working hard to find them the best deal. Even though may not saying anything out loud, they are more than likely thinking about it and writing mental notes down in the head.
Take a walk around the home and look for every cosmetic issue. Look for holes in the walls, doors, ripped window screens, bent or broken blinds, chipped paint, cracked tile, scratches or tears in the floor and similar issues. A lot of times you may have hung different things on the wall or accidently pushed hole into the wall. Typically, these things can be fixed by a simple trip to your hardware store.
For more complex issues, I would consider getting quotes from a handyman.
5. NEW PAINT, FRESH LOOK
Even if you've only lived in your home for a couple years, you may have noticed that your paint starts to fade, get dirty, chip or fall out of style. By touching it up or repainting your home thoroughly, it will help brighten your home up and restore its galore. You may even be able to do this yourself by taking a quick trip to the hardware store and picking up a few gallons of paint. If you are willing and able, do-it-yourself can help you save a good chunk of money.
It is necessary to repaint both the inside and outside. However, outside the home you may be able to get away with a light pressure washing to wash away any dirt or built up debris on the home. When considering paint color choices try to stick to simple light or bright colors. Light grays, white and pops of color are usually the most desirable. This will help your home appear cleaner, larger and easier to imagine customizing. I would recommend looking at the newer developments or newly renovated homes in your area online to get an idea of what they are doing.
6 BONUS POINTS
Alright, so maybe you've done all of the above or you've already moved out your home or you are staying with family/friends.
Well, you may want to consider staging your home with furniture. Think of it this way, your home is a blank canvas and deserves to be complimented by "artwork." You can do this yourself by researching your local home staging companies or your agent should be able to refer you to some. Some staging companies are very willing to work with you on customization and cost.
If you want to be creative, you might be able to get away with working with one of your local furniture consignment stores and adding the staging into sale of the home. They might be excited to do this as some of their furnishings take a long time to sell.
Word of advice- when staging the home with custom staging or even your own furnishings, it's always a good idea to keep it simple and try to use contemporary/modern style furnishings with bright pops of color. Also, less is more--don't clutter the area with furnishings that are too large for the area or take up the entire space. You want the buyer to imagine themselves in the space. Neutral dark or light colored furniture is ideal. However, it's always a good idea to get a consultation with a staging pro when deciding what style is best fitting for your home. Some realtors may be able to advise you on this as well so don't be afraid to ask for a professional opinion. If doing-it-yourself--look online for current trends and in home magazines for examples.
In my opinion, I think it's essential to follow these steps in order to help increase the volume of buyers that walk through your home and become impressed enough to write an offer. If your home appears and is in better condition than the competition, you will have created a commodity to buyers.
I hope this has helped you with your selling needs. Feel free to share this and send me a message if you have any questions. -Jason
