Preparing a house ready to sell for sale can be daunting, especially when doing it for the first time. However, it does not have to be. By following the right steps, you can have your house ready to be listed on the market in no time. This article covers some home seller tips you need to make your house ready for purchase.
Steps to Prepare Your House for Sale
Getting a house ready for sale is a long but doable process. Here is a checklist for getting the house ready to sell.
Determine the Value of Your House
The first thing you need to do is determine how much your home is worth, and the best way to do this is to be well-versed with everything related to your local housing marketing. Knowledge of competing properties with similar features, sizes, locations, and recent listing prices will allow you to determine the right price for your home accurately.
You can use platforms like Zillow to research competing properties, but you can take it one step further by using home appraisal tools. These tools use algorithms to help you determine the current market price of your home. While the appraisal tools are effective, it is essential to note that the result of this process differs from your final listing price. Instead, it is meant to give you a ballpark estimate.
In order to get a more definitive figure, you need to contact a professional real estate agent who will perform a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). An alternative would be to opt for a pre-listing appraisal, which typically costs around $400.
Furthermore, keep in mind that if you want to sell your house in Kansas City, you may need to reduce the sales price of your home to a more competitive one.
Hire a Qualified Real Estate Agent
It is vital that you hire a real estate agent as soon as possible. A professional real estate agent will be able to help you draw a plan regardless of what your goal is. In addition, they have the expertise to guide you through the selling process from start to finish.
With the service of an agent, you don’t need to worry about anything but the process when the sale is about to be finalized. The agent will handle tasks such as staging, marketing, negotiations, pricing, and others. That being said, you need to be meticulous when hiring an agent. Ensure to research whoever you want to work with properly. Take a look at reviews and experiences from other clients. Getting recommendations from friends and family is also a good idea.
Clean Every Room
Chances are you clean your home frequently and find it satisfactory. However, the shape of your home may not be up to listing standards. Hence, you should consider going out of your way to ensure your house (interior and exterior) is clean and comfortable for prospective buyers. A clean house gives a fantastic first impression, which may make buyers lean towards purchasing your house.
Cleaning your house does not have to be a one-day task. You can break up your chores over a few days, allowing you to focus on each room carefully. Pay attention to key areas such as the hallways, bathrooms, living rooms, bedrooms, closets, and kitchen.
Depersonalize Your House
You need to make your home a neutral zone so prospective buyers can picture themselves living there. The less personal your space seems, the higher your chances are of selling your property. So, consider getting rid of about one-third of your personal items. Also, hide polarizing objects, such as items related to politics or religion. These items may strike a nerve in prospective buyers based on their beliefs and opinions.
It would be best if you also decluttered other items like family photos, keepsakes, collections, and other items with sentimental value. Without decluttering this way, a potential buyer might find it challenging to imagine their belongings in your home because yours are still there.
Make Necessary Repairs
Issues in your home, no matter how small, can affect a buyer’s decision. So, to avoid this, you should make the necessary repairs. Doing things like changing burnt-out light fixtures or replacing broken appliance help to set up your home properly. Furthermore, conducting a home inspection before a listing is good because you can figure out what repairs you need to do and address them.
During the home inspection, the professional will analyze your property and look for problems such as cracks in the foundation, HVAC issues, and faulty electrical systems. If you have trouble finding a suitable home inspector, you can ask your real estate agent to recommend one.
After getting the inspection report, you can accomplish some repairs and leave the rest for the buyer. Nevertheless, you will need to inform them of the issues and configure your listing price to accommodate the cost of repairing noticeable issues. Repairing your home as best you can is an excellent idea because it leads to more buyers and a higher listing price.
Upgrade Your House
After cleaning and repairs, think about upgrading your home to make it stand out as much as possible. Remember that you have a limited amount of time and should not embark on any project because some do not have a decent return on investment (ROI). If you are having issues determining what to spruce up, seek advice from your agent.
That said, here are some upgrades that can yield high ROI.
- Front and garage door replacement or refurbishment (new coat of paint);
- Attic insulation;
- Landscaping (lawn care);
- Neutral fresh paint.
Find a Professional Photographer
Now that you have done all you can to make your home sellable. It’s time to focus on optics. This means taking listing photos and preparing your home for showings and open houses. Stage your home by adding decor, rearranging furniture, and including anything that will make it attractive. Some agents may refer a home staging professional, while others stage themselves and add a fee for the service.
After staging, enlist the services of a professional photographer. Before visiting a home, most house hunters search the internet for options. Therefore, you will need professional photos that stand out. Again, your agency can recommend a professional photographer who might charge around $180.
Conclusion
Once you have decided to sell your house, getting it ready should be a breeze. All you need to do is take it one step at a time, starting from figuring out listing prices and ending with top-notch photos from an experienced photographer. If you follow the proper steps, your home will be ready to sell to hit the housing market before you know it.
