Planning To Sell Your Home This Spring? Make First Steps Today
If you’ve made a decision to sell your home this spring, the time has come to take some important steps. One of the things buyers pay attention to is how long the home has been on the market. Houses that have been up for sale for a long time, automatically look suspicious and often are crossed off the “to see” list.
That’s why you shouldn’t put your home out there until it is completely ready. It takes more than a few weeks to make the necessary preparations. So the earlier you start, the faster you can sell. Here are a few steps you need to make in advance for the house to be ready for the spring sale.
Plan A Professional Inspection
Even if you think your house looks perfect, a buyer and a real estate agent may find something that will force you to lower the price. In order to learn about this beforehand, you should hire a professional inspector.
The expert can make an objective evaluation of your home and tell you what needs to be corrected in order to keep the price as high as possible. In case the buyer starts finding problems with your home after signing a contract, you may be in for some unexpected expenses.
Take A Minimalistic Approach
Today, many people prefer minimalistic designs. That’s why you need to clean out your home before showing it to prospective buyers. Take all the large items that seem to clutter the rooms and store them somewhere else. Anything you don’t plan to use until moving out should be removed as well. The more space you open up, the larger and more inviting your home looks.
Consider putting away all the personal artifacts, trophies, photos, etc. When a buyer looks at a home, he or she should be able to picture living in it. Personalized belongings make it harder.
Rearrange Drawers and Cabinets
Buyers enjoy peeking inside closets, cabinets, etc. If upon opening one of them, they see stuff falling out, the first impression will be botched. Start rearranging and alphabetizing items today, and by the time the spring comes, your things will be in a perfect order. This will also help you get rid of all the unnecessary items to make the move easier. Rent a temporary storage unit to keep all the things you’ll need later.
Do Some Cosmetic Repairs
Cosmetic touch-ups are inexpensive but they can make a huge difference. Fresh wall paint, replaced door handles, cleaned or new carpets are a place to start. Ask someone other than a real estate agent to take a fresh look at your home. A new point of view can help you notice things that weren’t obvious before.
Check The Records
Many buyers like doing research about owners and the property before sealing the deal. Do your own research before putting the house up for sale. Is everything in order? Is your title report clean? These problems can be fixed now but won’t be easy to correct when the buyer is at the doorstep.
Improve Curb Appeal
With the help of a real estate agent, appraise the curb appeal of your home. Does your lawn need some improvements? Perhaps you need to order a window cleaning session or do some pressure washing of the walls? Maybe you didn’t clean the gutters this fall? All these little things can add up to a big amount of money when it comes to the price tag.
Prepping your house for sale in a matter of days is hard. Start today and make it easier for yourself.