Selling your home is exciting! It marks the close of an exciting chapter in your life. And it can take several months, so many homeowners are willing to put their home on the market and get the whole process done as quickly as possible.
If you’re not ready to sell, don’t rush into listing your home. Incomplete repairs, neglected maintenance, and a bad first impression can all keep your home on the market for a long time.
Complete these tips in checklist form before listing your home for sale. Some are DIY and some require calling a professional. Either way, they’ll get your home ready And you to close quickly at a high price.
1. Take Professional Photos
Want to reach more potential buyers? Hire a professional to take pictures of your home.
Want to sell your home fast? Hire a professional to take pictures of your home.
Want to sell your home for more money? You get the picture… (Pun not intended.)
More and more buyers are going online to look for homes, and if they aren’t impressed by the photos they see, they’ll start clicking elsewhere. Home listings with professional photos sell 32 percent faster than homes without them.
If your home is worth more than $200,000, professional photographs can help you sell for up to $11,000 more. Additional buyers will be watching, visiting and bidding. This is a great investment in your property.
2. Make Quick Fixes to Boost Curb Appeal
First impressions are everything—even when selling a home. What’s the first thing buyers will see when they walk into your property?
Curb appeal can increase home value – 70 percent of NAR members say that curb appeal is “very important” to attracting buyers. Simple improvements like adding shrubs, unclogging gutters, and staging a front porch can make a home memorable before buyers even walk in the door.
Many of these quick fixes can be done in a weekend.
3. Stock up on light bulbs
Speaking of quick fixes, put light bulbs on your shopping list. (Many sellers forget this.) Open houses require all lighting throughout the home. Flickering lights are scary, and lightbulb replacement is a task no buyer wants to put on their to-do list.
Have replacements ready to avoid keeping buyers in the dark.
4. Call a handyman for repairs
You don’t need to hire a professional to screw in a lightbulb. In fact, if you need to tighten a loose handle or change an AC filter, you can probably check a lot of items off your list. But it’s important to assess your entire home for any necessary improvements. And then do them.
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Clogged gutters, leaky faucets, and squeaky doors just add items to a buyer’s to-do list. Make as few repairs as you can, but don’t hesitate to call a professional for the rest.
5. Check to Make Sure You Have All Permits
If you have work done on your own property, you will probably need to obtain some permits. If a buyer wants to do some work on your property at a later date, they are Some permits need to be obtained. Buyers who plan ahead will probably ask you about those permits.
Not only is it embarrassing to admit that you remodeled your home without the right permits—you could lose a buyer because they don’t want to have more items on their to-do list. Make sure you have all permits needed for remodeling that you’ve done in the past and permits for potential remodeling in the future.
6. Call the Kennel
As much as you love your animals, the proof of them in your home doesn’t add value. The right buyer may have allergies or prefer a pet-free life.
Have the number of the pet sitter or kennel with you when you are showing the house. hide or clear someone Proof Including the smell of your furry friend.
This may mean calling in the pros to deep clean your carpets, but it’s an investment that pays off in the long run.
7. Hire a Housekeeper
While you’re at it, hire a professional to remove the evidence. Yours Smell, too. Animal lovers aren’t the only homeowners who should consider deep cleaning. After years in your home or on your property, you may not notice some stains or odors.
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Buyers definitely will. Invest in a professional housekeeper or cleaner who will clean everything and make every surface shine.
8. Stash Valuables and Family Photos
Buyers want to step into a home and feel like they live there. Your family photos remind them that they are just watching.
This task kills some birds with one stone. The home is prepared for staging by removing personal photos and valuables. Even if you are not building your house, it also prevents your belongings from being stolen. You never know who’s coming to your open house and poking around your bedroom.
Packing these items may even save you time once you’re ready to go!
9. Rent a Storage Unit
You will need to put up photos of your family and pet cages somewhere. Design a storage unit so you don’t have to stress about where to keep your packed items. If you decide at the last minute to outfit the home with different furniture or decorations, this storage unit will be essential anyway.
And if all goes well, you’ll need a place to put All before you know it.
10. Make a List of Everything You’re Coming With
Eventually, everything is going to go away. This may mean lighting fixtures or curtain rods that are usually left behind.
Make a list of everything you are taking with you and give it to the Realtor. If you are not present during an open house, your real estate agent will be able to answer any questions buyers may have about what stays and what goes.
Is there anything you would recommend adding to this list?
Suggest in the comment section below!
Note by BiggerPockets: These are the views expressed by the author and do not necessarily represent the views of BigPockets.
