Owners can decide to sell a home at any time. However, if you are like most sellers who want to get as much as possible from selling, it can take some work to get your house ready.
Taking the time to prepare can be seen as tedious or even unnecessary, but the steps we discuss below could make the difference between getting less than you want and getting more than you ask for.
Deal With Known Issues and Defects
You probably know about every creaky floorboard or drafty window in your house already, but for the purpose of selling, you may want to conduct a title search and get an inspection.
Taking these measures can cost time and money, but they could also reveal issues that can jeopardize a sale. Having this information ahead of time gives you the opportunity to decide what to do. This may entail adjusting the listing price or ensuring that all necessary potential repairs (eg. fixing leaks, repairing broken fixtures, etc.) are completed before selling.
Clean It Up
Having a clean home can help you sell your home faster and for more money. A clean home can be a more appealing property to prospective buyers in person and in online photos. Whether you do the following yourself or hire a service, you can make your home ready for sale by:
- Removing any personal items, excess furniture, and clutter to make the house appear more spacious and allow potential buyers to envision themselves living there
- Deep cleaning the entire house, including carpets, windows, and less obvious areas like the basement and attic
- Freshen carpets, curtains, and other textiles
- Eradicate any pest infestations
- Consider staging your home with tasteful decorations to highlight the home’s best features and make it more attractive to buyers
- Improving the exterior appearance, maintaining the lawn, landscaping, painting the front door, and ensuring the house looks welcoming to buyers
- Organize cupboards and closets
These tasks can add appeal to your home, making it more inviting and attractive to buyers and potentially fetching a higher price.
Consider Big Project Carefully
Making some changes to your home can potentially increase the sale price. However, you do not want to put more into renovations or repairs than you stand to receive because of them. You may want to get estimates first from contractors for any major projects you wish to conduct to understand the costs involved and assess whether the investment is worthwhile. For instance, replacing your roof could be more financially advantageous, especially if the current roof is old or damaged, rather than converting your garage into a living space.
Additionally, attempting to make renovations or repairs yourself can be a costly misstep when you are not experienced in such projects. Lastly, you could wind up losing any money you spend on unnecessary luxury upgrades.
These preparations can have a significant financial impact when you put your house on the market, so completing them ahead of time can be wise. Also, seeking advice from a real estate agent who knows the local market and can recommend which improvements are likely to increase your home’s value may be a good idea.
