Terri Ramsey Beavers If you’ve already sold a home before, you probably have a good idea of all of the work that needs to be done. For first-time sellers, it can all become very overwhelming. You’ll get more advice than you can take in from your realtor, and friends and family will be an endless torrent of well-meaning but often contradictory tips. The good news is that there are some simple tasks to get done before your home is listed that can transform your home-selling experience. By carrying out these tasks, you won’t just find that your home sells much more quickly, but that it sells for more money than you were expecting. Here’s what you need to do.
1. Get a Realtor
Don’t settle for using a realtor that’s been recommended by friends or family. There are a lot of realtors out there, and they each have their own specialties and customer lists. Always take your time to do plenty of research, and check the reviews of satisfied customers. Look at their:
- Experience
- Customer service when talking to you
- Use of technology
- Market knowledge
The more time that you can take to find the best property agent, the easier it will be to sell your home.
2. Get Inspected
Hiring a property inspector might seem like a frivolous use of your cash, but it can pay off in the long run. In many cases, a property sale won’t go through until a certified property inspection has taken place. Ideally, you should use a property inspector before you get your home listed because it can be very useful for highlighting issues that you may not have been aware of. If those issues cause your asking price to drop, you have a head start in making those repairs. Don’t wait until the last minute to get your home inspected.
3. Update the Interior
The more attention you pay to your interior design, the more you can raise your asking price. For example, a full bathroom redesign can add very real value to your home. There are lots of ways to ensure that the interior of your property is helping you to get the maximum value for it. Everything from attic conversions to a kitchen or bathroom overhaul can add serious dollars to your profits. If you don’t have the finances to afford to make the changes that will add value to your home, then even minor updates like a fresh splash of paint can have more of an effect on valuation than you might think.
4. Curb Appeal
One of the phrases that you’re going to get tired of hearing is curb-appeal. This refers to the impact that the exterior of your home makes when potential buyers see it for the first time. Property buyers can make a decision on a property within seconds, so you want the outside of your home to look as amazing as possible. Tidy your garden, paint your front door, or re-lay gravel as needed. Don’t forget to check how your roof looks. If you have missing tiles or any roof damage, then check your local area for specialists in roofing Katy TX and get any repairs made. The more appealing you make the exterior of your home, the faster it will sell.
5. Get Detail-Oriented
It’s the small things that will often make all of the difference when it comes to making a sale. Before you get potential buyers around, make sure that faucets are clean and gleaming, tighten up any loose door handles, and replace any burnt-out lightbulbs. Test all of your windows to make sure that they all open easily, and wipe down any marks or stains on the walls. For every minor issue that a potential buyer encounters, the less likely they will be to buy what you’re selling.
6. Depersonalization
One task that your realtor will likely advise you to do is to sell house fast california is to remove as much of your personal belongings as possible. This means those family photos on the walls and the children’s paintings on the fridge door. Prospective buyers want to be able to picture themselves and their family inhabiting the space, and they will struggle to do that easily if your own mementos are in the way. In some cases, it’s often worth renting a storage unit to keep your excess personal belongings stored away until you can move into your new home.
From redecoration and repairs to making sure that you have the time to tidy up before a viewing, it can all be very stressful to sell a home. You can make that stress and hard work worth it, though, by making sure that you do everything possible to encourage a sale. The more time that you spend preparing and repairing your home, the faster your property will sell for and the more money you can ask for it. Prep your home, and you could end up with a lot more money than you expected.