As home sellers, you’re ready to sell, but don’t know the first thing about where to start. Maybe you tidy up a bit and go buy a “For Sale” sign at your nearest store. Now you’re ready, right? Wrong. There is still much to do!
Here are some tips to help home sellers begin the process.
Sorting, Packing, Cleaning!
Living in the same house year after year leaves time and opportunity for many things to accrue. One of the first things to do before selling is cleaning up. Go through your belongings. Move from category to category, room to room, throughout your house, sorting through what you want, need, and should throw away or donate.
After the long categorization has ended, pack belongings up that you will not need while finishing out your stay there. The more things packed away, the more open space there will be for potential buyers. It leaves their minds open for imagination when they walk around. It also leaves less for you to do when it’s time for you to move.
As you go from room to room, packing, take the time to clean them. Think of your potential buyers when you do this. What specifically will they be looking at? The windows? Carpet? Fans? Nobody wants a dirty house to buy!
Fix it up!
As homeowners, sometimes we put repairs off. However, as home sellers, your plan is to sell. This means it is time to roll up your sleeves, and fix any and all issues. Any project from little to big should be tackled.
Many buyers want to find homes that are ready to move into. This is why packing is beneficial for the buyers to see. They will know you are just as ready as they are!
No matter how small, if they walk in and notice there will need to be repairs, your chances of selling decrease. Another negative is that buyers may ask for a lower price or negotiate that you repair before they buy.
Hiring an inspector to walk through and report on the repairs needed helps speed up the buying process. More specifically, closing won’t be drawn out because of repairs. This also shows your honesty toward your potential buyers.
Home Staging
If you hire someone who stages homes for a living, they can give you a professional perspective on what buyers look for. From color selection to furniture arranging, they can make your home look spectacular. The color you like might not be the color majority home buyers like. Home stagers know the right path to take here. They give it the “appeal” needed to sell!
Behind the Scenes
If you’ve never bought or sold a home before, there is a lot of paperwork needed for the process to run smoothly. Having this filled out efficiently and honestly will save you from a slow, drawn out process. Specific information on the repairs made will be needed. Make copies of everything. It will save you in the long run.
For the sake of the closing process, be sure there are no surprises with the title.
Following these steps will start home sellers off on the right foot. Instead of jumping in with both feet first, dip your toe in and get a feel for how this works. Do research so that you won’t forget or miss anything along the way. Being prepared with hard work in the beginning will result in less stress.
