One of the most important things to keep in mind when house selling is to prepare for it. All too often homeowners decide to sell their home and don’t take the proper steps to ensure its total success. There are some important steps to take that are not difficult but can make a big difference in the home selling venture.
1. Think It Through
The first step is to think this decision through before taking any other steps. Sometimes because of the circumstances of the moment a person may list their house for sale, then question themselves as to whether this was the right decision. Think about it and talk it over with those that it is going to involve. Once you are sure that this is the right decision, then you are ready for the next step.
2. Know What Your Options Are
For those that want to sell a home today, there are plenty of options to choose from to go through the home selling process. Such as;
- Using the services of a traditional real estate agent
- Using the services of a discount realtor
- Selling the home yourself
Compare the pros and cons to each of these to help you reach what is the best choice for you. It will be partly based on your current circumstances.
3. Do Your Homework
Any time you have to make an important decision, then it should be an informed one. You need to know a little about the real estate market at the time you want to sell. Is it a buyer’s market or a seller’s market.
You want to know what similar homes in your neighbourhood have sold for. This gives you a good starting point for pricing the sale price.
4. Do a Walk Through
Now you have to view your home through the eyes of a potential buyer. This way of viewing your home will be significantly different than your viewpoint as the owner. A buyer will not have the personal attachment to the home that you do as the homeowner. This attachment can sometimes obscure logical thinking about the monetary value of the home.
As you do your walk through focus on all those negative aspects that you as a potential buyer would not find appealing. At the same time take note of the positive aspects. These are things that should be brought to the attention of a potential buyer at the time of viewing.
5. Get Ready to De-Clutter
Most everyone wants to get rid of some of the clutter, but the question is at what stage of the home selling process should you do this. Ideally, the right time would be as soon as you decide you are going to sell the home. Once all the clutter is removed then it allows you to see the home in a different perspective. This will allow you to identify the flaws and the good aspects much quicker. It will also make it easier for you to continue with the rest of the steps necessary for selling a home successfully.
De-cluttering can be overwhelming depending on how much you have accumulated over the years. It can also be hard to part with some items that you feel are important.
You may want to consider that if you have not used something in the last year its time to get rid of it
Have every family member participate as it is easier to accumulate all the unwanted items at one time.
Sort the items into three sections:
- Those that need to be discarded
- Ones that could be sold at a garage sale
- Those that can be donated
Once you have had the garage sale however make sure items left over go to trash or for donation.
Also, when de-cutting pay particular attention to closets, storage areas and cupboards. Once they are de-cluttered organize them. These are important features for potential home buyers.
6. Tend to the Minor Repairs and Improvements
Be careful with improvements as you will not always get your money back from them as the result of the sale. Fix those areas that are detracting from the general appearance of the home or those that could interfere with a home sale as a result of a home inspection.
Overall most find that a fresh coat of neutral paint throughout the home does a lot for giving the home a fresh appearance.
7. Work on the Exterior
Don’t neglect the exterior of the home. Do small repairs as necessary but most importantly make sure that it is attractive. A simple step like weeding the garden, manicuring the lawn and sweeping the walkways does wonders for curb appeal.
8. Clean Top to Bottom
Focus on cleaning the home from top to bottom. Even if there is no grime, dirt or debris a thorough cleaning helps to eliminate stale odours especially pet odours. Clean the carpets even if they are not going to be sold with the home. This can make a big difference in the appearances of the rooms they are used in.
9. Focus on the Positives
It is a natural approach to focus on the negative aspects of the home, but there are plenty of positives. Make sure you know what these are and point them out to your real estate agent. These are facts that this professional can point to prospective buyers who may not immediately notice them.
10. Be Prepared for the Showings
It can be a hassle having people come through your home, but if you are constantly prepared for this, it helps to prevent rushing around to get the home in order each time viewing is booked. You are going to need the entire family’s cooperation for this.
11. Staging vs Lived In
A new trend now is for people to stage their home for showings. This is a good trend, but one has to be sure that they don’t go overboard with it. A family home should be presented as just that. It shouldn’t come across as a picture from a magazine. Think of all the aspects in a home that depict it is one that a family enjoys. A simple measure like having the dining room table nicely set for a meal is one suggestion. Or, to have something baking in the oven is another. There are many simple steps that can be taken to give a home a homey atmosphere.
Summary
These steps may seem like a lot of work and depending on the condition of your home they may be. But for the most part, they are well worth the effort. You will most likely be able to sell your home much faster and get close to the price you are looking for.
