Selling a home is a time-consuming and emotional process. From getting one’s affairs in order to dealing with potential buyers to finalizing the sale, it involves many moving parts, requiring homeowners to pay attention to a myriad of things. One of these is getting the house ready to sell. Preparing the home for this endeavor can help build interest in the property, resulting in a quicker and more lucrative sale.
Focus on repairs and renovations
Several things around the house may need fixing, like broken tiles, stained ceilings, scratched floors, etc. Go around the house and make a list of any issues that may be of concern to a potential buyer. If needed, have a professional assessor check out the property and highlight problem areas. This will help determine what repairs are needed to get the house ready to sell.
Add curb appeal
A good first impression can make or break a deal. As potential buyers drive up to the home, a well-manicured curb can give the house a more inviting feel. This can be done by repainting the trim, cutting the grass, edging along sidewalks and paths, adding window flower boxes, installing a new mailbox, or even adding more greenery to the yard.
Stage the home
The home is an incredibly personal space. While it’s nice to have family photos, knick-knacks, and other personal belongings and memories up around the house, it is unlikely to impress buyers. Instead, turn the home into a clean slate – one where potential buyers can imagine living comfortably and building new stories. Take down any personal items and remove large pieces of furniture and art that may make the space look smaller or cluttered.
To show off the home’s best assets, consider going the extra mile and hiring a professional stager. This will cost around $1800 on average. While this isn’t a cheap service, staging can help sell the home faster and at a much better price.
Get a pre-listing home inspection
While buyers will generally have the home inspected before finalizing the purchase, it is a good idea to have a professional inspect the house beforehand. This will help sellers be aware of and fix any potential issues that may arise in the future, as these could give the buyer an opportunity to negotiate a lower price, or even back out of the deal.
Upgrade technology
Getting new appliances and gadgets around the house can make it more appealing to buyers. Add a couple of shiny new appliances to the kitchen, or invest in a new thermostat or an upgraded security system to make the house feel more secure and up-to-date.
Hire a real estate agent
To complete a house sale quickly, it is important to have a real estate agent onboard. Find a local agent who knows the area well, and has a proven sales record. There is a list of things to do to get a house ready for selling. The professional will help sellers throughout the process for a set commission (generally 2-3% of the final amount). This includes overseeing the photographer’s work, arranging for home staging, creating a well-detailed listing online, finding potential buyers, and even negotiating the best price.
Add good-quality photos to the listing
Most buyers begin their search for a new home online. That is why, it is a great idea to invest a little money in hiring a professional photographer. They can take high-quality photos and videos of the home, making it look more appealing to buyers to drive up interest. Experts recommend not taking photos of every square foot of the house. Offer just enough to pique the buyer’s curiosity and schedule a visit.
Prepare the paperwork
One of the key aspects of preparing for a home sale is having the paperwork ready. On average, selling a house can take months. That being said, with the right paperwork, agent, and potential buyer, it is possible to sell a house within five days as well.
Some of the paperwork that will be required include the house deed, homeowners insurance, loan information, property tax statements, appliance warranties, title report, purchase agreement, etc. Being ready with this information can help fast-track the sale, while a slow reaction time may lead to losing potential buyers.
Set the right asking price
Setting the right price for the home is key to making a quick and successful sale. While it can be difficult to set a price on one’s memories in a given place, it is important to take a practical approach to selling one’s home. A listed price that is too high may prevent buyers from checking out the place, and one that’s too low is likely to result in losses for the current homeowner.
The real estate agent can help sellers find the middle ground and set a reasonable price in such scenarios. It’s best to list a number that is lower than comparable properties to attract more buyers, but not too low. This will help entice more buyers, and may even lead to a bidding war.
Offer incentives
To make the deal sweeter for buyers, consider offering incentives such as covering closing costs, accommodating the buyer’s move-in/out schedule, agreeing to inspections or known items of concern, and/or offering a transferable home warranty.