Selling your home can be an incredibly stressful process. Not only do you have to try to figure out what improvements need to be done to make sure that your home gets a top-dollar offer, but you also have to sort through plenty of paperwork and other legal steps that have to be taken. A step that people don’t know about is getting an ALTA survey conducted for your house’s boundary lines. While there is nothing that can be done to remove all of the stress involved, these seven steps you need to do before selling home that can help you stay organized when trying to get your “For Sale” sign to change into a “Just Sold” sign.
This is perhaps the most important thing you must do before selling home. While the idea of doing a “For Sale By Owner” can be tempting thanks to the chance to save money on commission, a good Realtor is worth the commission they make and more.
It is a good idea to interview multiple Realtors until you find the one that is right for you. Be sure to watch out for red flags during these interviews, such as “guaranteeing sales” and making a lot of hard-to-keep promises.
Instead, ask them about their strategy of marketing homes that are similar to yours, how well they know the market, and if they have any past clients that would be willing to recommend them. Speaking of recommendations, contact friends and family members of yours who have done real estate transactions to find out what kind of experiences they had with their Realtor. Find out what they liked, disliked, and if they would advise you to use that Realtor.
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Home Staging
If you’re selling your home you’re probably in the process of moving out or have already done so. Either way, you should consider finding a home stager. This stager will help ensure that your Realtor isn’t showing potential buyers an empty property, or one that is filled with furniture and décor that is only appealing to you. Professional stagers know what design trends are popular and what works in the target market for your home.
This process can be one of the more expensive tips on our list, but it is also an investment that pays dividends. In fact, a study published by Investopedia reported that 77% of Realtors that represent buyers said that a well-staged home had a positive impact on their clients making an offer.
Upgrade Your Home
While it may seem counterintuitive to spend money on your home before selling it, it can actually be a sound investment. Something as minor as a fresh coat of paint in a room that may have been “forgotten” over the years can create a more warm and welcoming environment once their inside. Finally, don’t be afraid to spend a few dollars to fix all those “minor issues” that didn’t bother you over the years. What was minor to you may be major to someone looking for a home that is move-in ready. You can also consider selling to a real estate investor like The Local House Buyers if you currently don’t have the budget to upgrade your home.
In addition to fixing things that are in need of repair, be sure to take the time to de-clutter and organize. If you are still living in the home while you’re in the process of selling it, you will still obviously have all of your belongings there. While people will understand that they are viewing an occupied home, they will be more likely to envision themselves living in it if things are neat and tidy.
Curb Appeal
It has been said that first impressions are everything, and that is certainly true in the world of real estate. In fact, The Wall Street Journal recently reported that improved curb appeal of homes for sale increased the home’s market value by 7%. The impression that people get of your home from the street will have a real impact on how interested they are once they get inside. Shrubs that are overgrown and unruly, a cluttered and dirty front porch, and other issues that show a lack of maintenance can turn off a buyer before he or she ever gets past the front door.
While you don’t have to invest thousands of dollars in landscaping, something as minor as some new plants or cleaning up the existing ones can do a lot to make a good first impression on a buyer. Something as simple as a new mailbox or a freshly painted front door will also help if you aren’t interested in working on plants and other landscaping ideas. Just remember, people shopping for a home see the view from the street and
Virtual Tours
Technology has had a direct impact on every industry in the world, and real estate is no different. At a time where people are busier than they have ever been, many people may be interested in your home but cannot schedule an appointment to view it in person.
Keep in mind, they are trying to schedule a viewing around hours that work for themselves, their Realtor, and you. For this reason, many Realtors have started offering virtual tours of properties that they have listed. While you can walk around your home with your camera and post a video on social media, a good Realtor will do a professional-grade virtual tour for you.
These virtual tours also give potential buyers the chance to view your home as many times as they would like. Instead of feeling like they have to rush through the property so they can go look at others on their wish list, they can spend however much time they’d like looking at every aspect of your property.
Shining a Light on the Matter
Everyone knows that location is the most important aspect of a home, HGTV reports that buyers say that good lighting is the second most important thing that they look for. Make sure that the inside of the home is well-lit with fresh bulbs in all the sockets and nothing blocking the windows to ensure that natural light can get in.
Hide Your Pets
You may believe that everyone loves animals, but that is simply untrue. While your four legged friend is more like a family member, there is a chance that the people buying your house have no interest in having a pet. When people are coming to view your home, try to make arrangements for someone to watch your little fur-buddy for you, and hide anything like training pads, chewed up shoes, and other evidence of the pet.
Conclusion
While nothing can make the process of selling a home stress-free, these tips can at least you can do before selling home, that can reduce the anxiety associated with such a large transaction.
