Steps To Take Before Listing Your Property For Sale

A new year always inspires us to consider what we want from it. Maybe you are ready to move on to new adventures in a new region, state, or country. Such a move will require you to sell your home and to get the best price; you will need to spend a few weeks, if not months preparing it for sale.

Of course, you’re probably aware that to get the best price, you’ll need to be smart about it. For example, what you believe your home is worth and what it is worth can be poles apart. If it’s been some time since you’ve sold a home and you’re not in the real estate industry, then keeping up to date with your property value probably hasn’t concerned you – until now!

Hopefully, you’ve been more discerning about the condition of your home, so the information you’re about to get in this Property Talk blog post won’t be too much of a shock.

There will be some challenging decisions, so you prepare your home to attract homebuyers willing to pay your asking price or more!

Before you get to the tasks leading to listing your property for sale, make sure the move is right for you. There’s nothing to gain by selling your home and then regretting the decision. Therefore your first action is to confirm you’re definitely keen on relocating to a new area.

If you are looking for a new home in an area like Atlanta, as eXp Reality notes homebuyers should check out its best suburbs. However if you’re moving to another country, your research should be more intensive and include the area and location as such a move is costly and stressful for you and your family.

Preparing Home For Sale

When you’re nearly 100% sure a move is right for you, give yourself plenty of time to prepare your home for sale, so the work you put in today still counts when the time comes to list and market your home.

1. Declutter and depersonalize

Remove excess items from rooms and closets to make the space look larger. Remove personal items such as family photos and religious entities to help potential buyers envision themselves living in the house.

2. Clean and repair

Clean the house thoroughly and make any necessary repairs. This can include fixing leaks, patching holes in walls, and replacing broken appliances. Address the significant issues before putting your home on the market so that you can sell it for a higher price. You can then choose to repair the minor problems or negotiate with a buyer on pricing terms regarding the repairs. Remember, you can also sell the home as-is, although you’ll make less money.

3. Stage the interior

Arrange furniture to make the space more inviting, and consider hiring a professional stager to help. Or your realtor can help you with the staging and photography process.

The most vital consideration when staging your home is to ensure it appeals to the broadest homebuyer base. You want to attract competition, so you get the best price. If many prospective homebuyers want your home, they will pay what they want to pay to ensure your home is sold to them.

4. Improve curb appeal

Mow the lawn, trim bushes and trees, and add fresh mulch or flowers to the landscaping.

5. Highlight the best features

Showcase the unique features of your house, such as a recently remodeled kitchen or a beautiful backyard.

6. Show the house in the best light.

Ensure all the lights are on and open curtains and blinds to let in natural light.

7. Property valuation

Don’t assume a visual inspection is enough to know the actual value of your property. Ask a property inspector to perform a full inspection. They will make a list of anything that you should repair. If the inspector doesn’t find anything, you can list your home as pre-inspected, showing potential buyers your house is a good investment.

8. Choose a realtor and price it right.

Hire a realtor to help you sell your home. They can act as a buffer to determine which buyers are genuinely interested and who are “just looking.” A realtor also has specialized knowledge in how to sell a home, including how to sell the surrounding neighborhood. Even better, they can help you with all that pesky paperwork after you sell. Research the market and set a competitive price for your house.

8. Market your home

Use multiple platforms, such as the internet, local newspapers, and real estate agents, to advertise your home.

9. Be flexible with showings.

Be prepared to show your home anytime, and ensure it is always clean and ready for visitors.

Summing Up

Moving from home can be stressful, especially when you need to sell it for a reasonable price. Preparation is critical to getting the right price, and the deal was done quickly so you can move on to the next chapter in your life.

A final comment. From the home inspection to hiring the realtor, it is important to seek out certified professionals. The same holds for tradespeople and contractors.