We know how stressful selling a home can be, but it doesn’t have to be confusing. This home seller checklist will keep you on track and ahead of the game. From hiring an agent to the closing day we’ve got you covered. There’s plenty to do so, let’s jump into your home seller checklist…
Find a Great Real Estate Agent
It can be tempting, especially in a hot market to think you can sell your home yourself, and pocket the cash you would otherwise pay a real estate agent. That decision can become a disaster. Agents do more than just bring in potential buyers and show up to have documents signed. They know all the ins and outs of both buying and selling a house. If you’re trying to sell your home you really do need to consider all your options to make your sale a success and that includes using a real estate agent. That said your real estate agent should be someone you feel comfortable working with, whom you trust to sell your house for top dollar. Do not be afraid to talk to a few real estate agents before you choose one.
Consider Curb Appeal
You want to make sure potential buyers’ first impression of your home is a good one. There are dozens of small, inexpensive home improvements that you can do to up your home’s curb appeal. Adding curb appeal to your house not only makes it easier to sell, but it also gives your house that nice and finished look in which you can take pride in. If you are not sure how to improve your home’s curb appeal, ask your real estate agent for advice on how others in your area have improved the exterior before selling their home.
Declutter Living Areas
There’s nothing like the idea of moving to make it oh-so-much easier to let go of all that clutter! One of the first things a realtor will tell you is to clean and declutter before moving. Homebuyers want large spacious rooms and decluttering is the fastest and easiest way to achieve that impression – no renovations needed! Take your excess stuff and donate it, or pack it up and store it off-site. Not only does getting rid of clutter help your home look more spacious, but it will also help you once you have accepted an offer and it is time to move. Part of your packing will be completed.
Depersonalize Your Space
Remove any distractions so the buyers can visualize themselves and their family living in the property. When preparing your house for sale depersonalizing it is an important step in the home staging process. Now that virtually all buyers start their home search on the internet, it’s even more important to depersonalize your home before taking your online listing photos. Your home is likely filled with many very personal items that are unique, special, and important to you and your family. To prepare your home for selling, you want to remove your personality so that potential buyers can visualize how their own personality will look in your house. To make it easy for them to do this, you need to go through your home and pack up or put away all your personal items. This is the process of de-personalizing your home.
Repaint Walls to Neutral Tones
You might love the brick red accent wall, but if it is the potential buyer’s least favorite color it could be a turnoff to a potential buyer. While your home may reflect “you” to a “t,” buyers need to imagine themselves in a house, and neutral tones are the best paint colors for selling a house in most cases. It is your job as the seller to help your buyers picture themselves in the house.
Touch up any scuff marks: Make your house sparkle and look cared for. When buyers walk into an open house or go on a home tour, they want to fall in love with the house. So do all those small repairs to your house. Are there dents and dings on the walls, scratched moldings, or a handle loose on a drawer in the kitchen? Fix all those little things.
Add Some Plants
Plants create a bright and welcoming environment. Some plants and natural elements will impress the buyer by bringing some color and life to your decor. Even a bowl of fruit on the kitchen counter or dining table is a nice touch.
Scents Make Sense
The sense of smell can sway a homebuyer when it comes to spending time in a space during an open house. When preparing a home for sale. homeowners need to remove the sources of bad odor first. Bad smells that deter buyers include cooked food, home appliances, clothing and shoes, pets, smoke, and mold – even dusty air vents can put a stank face on homebuyers. First, take the time to clean the entire home from top to bottom to make a huge impact on the scent of your home. By cleaning regularly, a home seller is staying on top of stale, musty air that can linger in
the home.
Hide Valuables
Hide any valuables during a showing. Medications should be kept locked away in cabinets, as theft of prescription drugs is becoming more common during showings. If you have a safe, you should lock up expensive items such as jewelry. You can’t trust everyone who comes into your house, even when you are trying to sell it.
Consider Staging
Staging a house helps buyers imagine themselves living in it. If you want to sell your home faster, staging a house may help. Staging a house gets your place showroom-ready and allows buyers to imagine themselves living there. Homebuyers are used to seeing picture-perfect houses—in person, on home decorating shows, and in online listings, so learning how to stage a house can make a big difference when selling. Stagers know the real estate market, and what sells, so take their advice and do not take offense when they make big changes. They are hired to drum up interest from potential buyers, which is good news to you, the seller.
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Tom has 20+ years experience in helping his clients buy and sell properties. Tom is also great resource for trusted vendors that can help assess and fix a property before buying or selling it.
About Tom Reese
Helping my clients attain their dreams has been the foundation of my success. With my strong attention to customer service, I have earned my clients continued support and referrals. Put my enthusiasm and dedication to work for you!
Call Tom anytime at (859) 393-1293
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