Selling your home takes a lot of work, and if it’s your first time, you may not be prepared for how much is involved. Of course, it’s not just physical work and going through an extensive amount of paperwork. It’s likely that you have a strong emotional attachment to the home you’re trying to sell, especially if it’s your first home.
The good news is that you don’t have to go through it alone, and it shouldn’t be as hard as usual to find buyers these days. The demand for housing in the United States shot up during the coronavirus pandemic, and the current timeline is still a seller’s market. That doesn’t mean you can hope to just take it easy and rake in the cash, however. Here are four crucial things you’ll need to do before your house is ready for the market.
1. Declutter your home.
Having your space organized is a big deal to prospective buyers visiting your open house or taking a private tour. In the context of selling a house, this doesn’t just mean that everything is in its proper place, either. You need to make your house look as much like a new home as possible, and that means it needs to be completely decluttered. While things like your family photos, heirlooms, and knick-knacks are precious to you, potential buyers just see things in the way.
Of course, no one’s saying that homeowners need to throw away their treasures to be ready for the market. A simple storage unit can provide you with all the temporary space you’ll need while you’re in the process of preparing your home.
2. Give your home a deep clean.
Few things can make a worse impression on a potential buyer than a house that’s messy or has unpleasant odors. Even if you’re one to keep up with your cleaning duties, it’s possible that there are odors in your home that you’ve gone “nose blind” to, especially if you have pets. Scrubbing bathrooms, wiping down all surfaces, cleaning rugs, and mopping the floors are all crucial components of an effective deep clean.
If your area rugs are old or in bad shape, you might even want to shop carpet online to find replacements. There are great options these days for carpet tiles that are comfortable, pet-friendly, and resistant to fading and stains. These types of carpets show off great, and they may even make buyers with pets more confident about your home.
3. Stage your home for the best showing.
Staging your home is any strategy you use to show off your space in the best light possible. Your home should be relatively empty when it’s ready for market, so showing off your room space shouldn’t be too difficult. Don’t forget to stage the exterior too, though.
First impressions begin with your home’s curb appeal, so it’s a good idea to have some flowers in the yard or at least ensure that your siding and door paint is free from chips or grime. If your home doesn’t show well, then it’s likely that all your efforts will be for nothing.
4. Hire a reliable real estate agent.
While you may want to save on commission fees by handling the entire selling process by yourself, this would be a big mistake. Particularly if you live in a competitive housing market, such as the Bay Area or Oakland, you’ll need the help of professional real estate agents, like those at Joe Dickerson Group.
They’ll help you price your home appropriately, attract the best buyers, and help your home stand out from similar homes on the market. Take a look at joedickersongroup.com for more details on their recognitions and how they managed to sell houses quickly in the midst of the pandemic.
With the right professional help and the willingness to put in the required work, you’ll be able to get your home ready for the market and even attract great prices.
