Selling your home can feel like an overwhelming task. But, with these steps and the help of a real estate agent, you can prepare your home for the market in no time.
Step 1: Find an agent and set your strategy
Find an agent
Get online or ask friends for referrals for trusted local agents. Give them a call and ask them any questions you may have. Compare your candidates and choose the agent who you feel is the best match. Then, it’s time for them to visit your home and suggest any repairs, staging, and other preparations that will help attract buyers.
Settle on a list price
To determine your home’s market value, your agent will conduct a comparative market analysis. They’ll compare all the features of your home to similar homes that have recently been sold in your area. Once they narrow in on the market value, your agent will work with you to set a listing price guided by the market trends.
Create a budget for updates
Create a budget for any updates you want to make to the home. This can include things like:
- Professional cleaning services
- Lawn care and landscaping
- Fresh paint
- Plumbing & HVAC maintenance/updates
Make arrangements with contractors
Hire reputable contractors for any professional tasks on your to-do list. Ask your agent and friends for referrals on trusted contractors in their network.
Step 2: Prepare the inside of your home
Declutter and depersonalize
Decluttering your home before listing photos and showings helps the buyer see themselves in the home. A few ways to do this are:
- Pack up anything you won’t need until you move into your new home.
- Removing personal items like family photos, sports team regalia, and novelty collections.
- Throw out or donate any items you don’t want to take to your new home.
Replace old fixtures & hardware
Old lighting fixtures & hardware can date your home. Update any worn lighting fixtures in the living room, dining room, bathrooms, and kitchen. You’ll also want to update any old or worn-out cabinetry hardware including knobs, door hinges, door handles, and towel racks.
Stage your home
The National Association of Realtors found that staging a home could increase its value by up to 5%. With staging, you can make the interior look larger and more contemporary. This helps buyers visualize themselves in the home. You can do this by removing unnecessary furniture, showcasing your closets & storage space, and letting in natural light.
Step 3: Enhance your curb appeal
Refresh landscaping
If your home has lots of landscaping already, you may want to hire a landscaping company to give it a refresher. If not, there are plenty of landscaping refresher tasks you can complete on your own. Pull weeds, replace the old mulch, trim away any overgrown greenery, and clear away anything that may be obstructing the view of the home.
Powerwash exterior surfaces
Powerwashing will get rid of pollen, mold, and dirt packed into your sidewalks and driveway. Be sure to wash away any dirt that has accumulated on the siding, brick, or garage door on your home, too.
Step 4: Final preparations
Schedule a pre-listing inspection
A home inspection typically takes place after a buyer has made an offer. Once the buyer receives the inspection report, they may try to negotiate a lower price based on necessary or upcoming repairs.
To help speed up the process, you can schedule a pre-listing inspection so that you can provide buyers with the findings of the inspection before they make an offer. This way, buyers know what they’re walking into, and it can help speed up the closing process.
Fill out the required seller paperwork
Depending on the state you live in, you must fill out several documents when selling your home. Your agent will provide you with these documents. This may include:
- Disclosure forms
- Proof of age and condition of key structural features like HVAC system and the roof (if possible)
- Any information on additional home features
Get started today
Team Melton has over 50 combined years of real estate experience to assist you through every step of the process. Contact us today to get started on selling your home!