How To Get Your House Ready To Sell?

If you’re ready to sell your home, it’s important to take action before putting your home on the market. Whether you choose to make it a DIY project or hire contractors, having a home that sparkles and wows buyers should be your primary concern.

In this article, we will cover the basic concepts that you need to perform to get the highest asking price and shortest timeframe when selling your home. Let’s begin!

Preparing the Exterior of Your Home for Sale

The exterior of your home is the face that every buyer sees. Before even taking a step inside, buyers are already making judgments and determining whether your house is the right one for their needs. Your home’s exterior also speaks volumes about your financial situation and whether you’re desperate to sell.

Instead of attracting buyers looking for a deal with a “fixer-upper” or later asking for concessions during the negotiation process, taking care of your home’s exterior proves your viability as a seller (and not just someone who is looking to foist their house on a sucker). Therefore, it’s absolutely essential to budget some time and money to fix up the outside of your home and property.

The following are some general suggestions for preparing your home’s exterior for sale:

• Remove personal belongings and decorations from the front of your home. This can include anything from a basketball hoop in the driveway, children’s toys in the yard, holiday decorations
• A fresh coat of exterior paint goes a long way and is relatively inexpensive. It also covers up damage and rot to shingles. Stay away from bold colors and instead opt for whites or greys to make the home seem like an empty canvas for the buyer.
• Structural issues, such as a crooked awning, cracked windows, and a run-down driveway can be off-putting to buyers. Naturally, a homebuyer will assume that these are not the only issues with the house, making them more apt to look for other issues throughout the home. Hiring a contractor to fix these problems is a smart move
• Don’t neglect the back portion of your home’s exterior. If you have an alley or an area of your backyard is visible, a buyer will probably take a look to see if there are any other problems or which features come with the home (such as a deck, storage shed, swimming pool, and so forth).
• Embrace the concept of “curb appeal”. Essentially, curb appeal is the ability to attract and catch the eye of potential buyers. Realtors typically advise regularly mowing your lawn, planting a weed-free garden with bright colors, and even painting the front door in a bold color (red is most popular).

Above all, be honest with your assessment of the outside of your home. If something irks you, chances are a buyer will notice this too.

Preparing the Interior of Your Home

Just as important as the exterior of your home, the interior of your home needs to be in tip-top condition. Here are some suggestions to spruce up the interior of your home:

• Remember that buyers are trying to imagine how the house will look when you’re no longer living in it. Move all of your property but the day-to-day essentials before showing the home or holding an open house. This can be a bit of a challenge for busy families or those with a substantial amount of furniture, but the net result can add thousands to the closing price and expedite the selling process.
• Consider hiring an interior decorator that specializes in home sales that can advise you on how to best fix up your home to sell. Some even offer furniture for rent that can enhance the look of your home.
• Give everything a thorough cleaning, including windows, floors, ceilings, and all other surfaces. Dust and other debris shows neglect through your home that may imply that you didn’t care to address simple problems.
• Just like the exterior, neutralize the home by applying a fresh coat of paint with greys or white colors.
• Considering hiring a contractor to address any potential problems that are out of your abilities. Smaller projects, such as fixing creaky stairs or removing rust stains, only take a short amount of time; however, replacing drywall and more involved projects are best left to professionals.

Other Factors to Consider

Besides shoring up the exterior and interior, the following are also other factors to consider when getting your home ready for sale:

• Inform your neighbors that you’re selling the home. Having friendly, amicable neighbors that are aware that you’re leaving can be a selling point for buyers that want to live in a positive community. Negative reactions from neighbors can be extremely distressing for those looking to purchase your home. Instead, be transparent with your actions - even for neighbors that you may not have gotten along with.
• Line up your accommodations before making the sale. If you’ve already purchased a new home, this is relatively simple and only requires a moving truck. However, some homeowners may be caught off-guard at how quickly their home is sold, forcing them to not only put their belongings in storage, but rent a hotel or stay with family until completing a move to a new home.
• Hire professionals to save time and money. Homeowners are typically busy with their lives and may not be able to account for issues to the home that others see. Hiring a professional gives you verification that your home is up to snuff and lightens your burden so you can focus on selling your home. After work is performed, be sure to ask for documentation when your home is accurately assessed. This gives you verifiable evidence and shows due diligence on your part.