3 Steps for Preparing Your Home to List
Earn the maximum amount for your home listing when you take a few strategic steps before it hits the market!
As exciting as the prospect of selling your current house in order to move into your custom dream home can be, it’s crucial to take a few main actions to prepare your home for listing. Taking your time to do these well can make a world of difference in how much you make from your listing! Charlotte real estate expert Katie Brown helps to shed light on the most important action items.
Touch-ups
To prepare your home, first do the necessary touch-ups and minor repairs. Major repairs will depend on what the issue is, the cost of repairing it, and how it’s likely to play out in the sale. If it’s doable financially, it’s good to get everything in great condition so there are no snags in inspection.
When things go unrepaired — even small things like a burnt-out light bulb, — potential buyers start making a to-do list and deducting dollar signs in their minds. It makes the purchase less appealing, and the house is instantly worth less when people have to think about fixing things.
Touch-ups can include painting, especially if there are any rooms with bright or funky colors. It’s always best to keep things neutral. This is also a good time to do some yard work, because curb appeal plays a large role in first impressions. Trim the bushes, pressure wash the house and driveway, and add a pop of color by planting flowers.
The goal is to make a stunning first impression. People want to move in and not have to fix a bunch of things. The more move-in ready a home appears, the more easily it will sell — and the more money it’s likely to bring in.
Cleaning and decluttering
Almost every seller right now thinks their home will just sell without doing anything to it. But when you go that route, buyers go in and start subtracting dollar amounts. Taking the few extra steps to get the house in its best condition can result in making tens of thousands of dollars more.
My catch phrase is always: declutter, declutter, declutter! We want to make the house look like no one lives there, even if you do still live there. This is going to make the space look larger and will increase perceived value. Buyers will always be willing to pay more for a home that feels clean and taken care of.
Staging
A lot of people think staging means hiring a professional stager for a lofty fee and bringing in thousands of dollars worth of furniture that’s not yours. In reality, you can arrange your own furniture and decor in a strategic way that will appeal to potential buyers.
We’ve talked about making sure spaces feel neutral, clean, and decluttered. We also want to maximize natural light to make rooms feel bright.
Since most buyers are having to fight to win bidding wars, they’re generally going through the real estate process for weeks or months and end up very savvy. They’re knowledgeable about real estate and they know what to look for. So much of the process comes down to what they can see online, so getting professional photos is a must. A virtual tour is even better, because many buyers are making offers sight unseen. Photos and video tours drive traffic and offers to the property.
In this market, sellers know their house is going to sell. Our job is to get you the most money for that sale. If that means spending a few dollars and some time to get it ready, that can make a huge difference in the end!
Ready to sell your home and build custom? Start the building process with Atmos today!
