You’ve picked a great time to sell, now all of you have to do is get started on the must-do’s before your house goes on the market. The ultimate goal of course is to, hopefully, get it sold FAST!
Think ahead.
Even when you’re not considering moving into a new home in the immediate future, one of the biggest things that people don’t tend to think about is how much you can make your future move easier on yourself NOW. This means, don’t hold onto stuff you know you no longer like or have a use for. If you’re one who tends to keep things like I do (sometimes I feel like a mini-hoarder), recognize that this will be something you move with you into your next house (along with every other item that you currently own and more). Rip off the nostalgia bandaid, donate it to Goodwill, and call it a day. By the time you get to write it off on your taxes you won’t even remember what it was.
Clean like you’ve never cleaned before.
I’m talking DEEP cleaning in every nook and cranny of your home. Consider it a week-long project at least so you can set the right expectation for yourself ahead of time. Keep in mind that getting this close to parts of your home that you don’t clean regularly can often lead to realizing that a fresh coat of paint is overdue!
Imagine yourself as a potential buyer.
Often times, buyers tend to base their initial judgement about whether or not they may want to buy a home off of how well the previous owners have kept their home maintained. Well maintained, move-in-ready homes are what is being sought after in today’s market. Buyers may not be willing or able to spend a lot of time making updates after they purchase a new house. If you are considering selling without getting your house ready for this type of a buyer, be prepared to adjust your list price accordingly.
Be selective.
Simply stated, you want to be sure to hire an agent to help sell your home that fits your needs and your personality. Make sure they understand what you are hoping for and bounce ideas off of each other. Most importantly, be sure to understand the agents marketing platforms so you know your home will be visible to as many potential buyers and buyer’s agents as possible.
STAGE!
Staging may be one of the most important points. This allows potential buyers to better envision living in your home. So, you want to be sure to remember to depersonalize and take down any wedding photos, family photos, monograms, etc. Also, be sure to know that staging DOES NOT mean you have to spend a lot of money! Use stuff you already own, and, even more importantly, REMOVE items that make cause areas to look cluttered (this includes furniture and any knick-knack type decorations that only junk things up). This will open up the space and allow for better passage during walk-throughs/open houses. Just remember – LESS IS MORE.
-Dana Eller, St. Louis Realtor.
Lou Realty Group wants to help our housing market continue to succeed! Feel free to call/text anytime with questions or inquiries about selling your home in the St. Louis market!
I really like your advice to imagine yourself as a potential buyer. I think doing so would be a good way to best understand what you need to do to prepare your house for a sale. It’s easy as a seller to focus on the things that you really enjoy, but the interests of a buyer might be a little different. Overall, I thought all of this advice was great, and as someone who is getting ready to buy a home in the next year or so, it gave me a lot to think about. Thanks for sharing!
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