So you are finally ready to put your old home on the market. Maybe you have even found your new dream home and you are particularly eager to move out as soon as possible. If this is your first time putting a house out on the market, your stress, anxiousness, and lack of experience could do a number on you. If you are clueless when it comes to getting a house ready to sell, these next few lines should help you avoid a few rookie mistakes that could costs you a few thousands or more off the selling price.
Without further ado, here are the top three things we warmly recommend you to consider before listing your home for sale.
Tip #1: Familiarize Yourself With The Local Market
Know exactly what is the average value of similar homes in your area is by initiating thorough and detailed research evolving around the housing market in the neighborhood, town, or area you live in. You can also use expert websites to get the freshest data and statistics, and use dedicated home price calculators online that will let you complete useful listing comparisons.
Make sure to factor in the home amenities, square footage, location, renovations, and various other elements that could make a difference in the pricing and help you ask for a bigger price. If you do not feel like handling all the comparisons and calculations on your own, or you simply do not have the time for it, make sure to find a trustworthy realtor who can assist you with this aspect as well.
Tip #2: Thoroughly Declutter And Clean The House
If you have always hated decluttering, but you do love a neat, well-organized space with everything in its place, you wouldn’t be the only one. The potential buyers that will show their interest in your home will definitely want to walk into a clean and organized space so there is nothing stopping them from seeing exactly what they are about to invest in.
While some people should be able to see beyond some boxes laying around in a cluttered space and recognize a good deal when they see one, others might be turned off by such a sight and move on to the next listing they have found. The truth is no one wants to see your junk and loads of knick-knacks on the floors, sofas, and closest, not even you. So make sure you either plan a yard sale or sell the items you do not plan on packing and moving online, or find some other purging solutions if you need to.
Keep in mind a potential buyer’s first impression is critical, which also means that you simply cannot afford to leave anything in the hands of fate. Any bad odors coming out from your sofa upholstery or carpets that have not been cleaned in a while, sticky floors or dirty-looking countertops and shower tile and grout will make anyone run to the hills.
Prior to officially listing your home for sale, hire an expert cleaning service like carpetcleaningnyc.com and make sure you give your home the deep cleaning it needs, no exception. Wipe down everything, vacuum and remove old stains from carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture, do the dishes – the whole nine yard. You want your place to look flawless, so it is best to rely on the pros if you need to.
Tip #3: Paint The Walls & Buy More Light Bulbs
Use neutral paint colors so you can make your home look brighter, bigger, and warmer to walk and move into. A fresh coat of paint can truly go a long way in covering imperfections. When you are ready to show your home to potential buyers, make sure all light fixtures are working fine so you can put your home into a better light and consider staging your home for better odds of selling quicker.