Are you ready to sell your house? If you opt to sell your house to a cash home buying company, you won’t have to do anything to your home to get the money you need. This is because they typically buy your house in as-is condition. However, if you are selling the traditional way, you’re going to have to prep your house for sale to attract buyers that are serious about buying your home. Here are some tips on getting your house ready to sell.
Hire a Top-Rated Listing Agent
Before you start prepping your house for potential buyers, hiring a top-rated listing agent in your local area is a good idea. Remember that all the upgrades you make to your home to sell it may not be necessary. An agent will be able to provide you with a comparative market analysis report pointing out the key selling points of homes recently sold in the area. The items they point out from this report are the key areas of your home to focus on.
For instance, if they discover that homes in the area sell better if they have a remodeled kitchen or a finished basement, you can focus on those areas. Not only will they help you with comps, but they will also help give you pointers throughout the entire selling process.
Improve Curb Appeal
Of all home improvements that add value, curb appeal is among the most critical. Remember, you won’t get a second chance to make a first impression. So, make sure you get your curb appeal right the first time around. Home buyers will want to see what’s inside based on what they see outside. So focus on pressure washing the exterior or putting a new coat of paint outdoors. Also, ensure that your lawn looks great.
Clean and Declutter
You don’t want a homeowner to maneuver through a dirty, cluttered house during a showing. So, make sure you clean and declutter your home thoroughly. For best cleaning results, hiring a professional cleaning company may be ideal.
When clearing the clutter from your home, focus on removing unnecessary items. Store these items off-site in a storage facility or at a friend’s home. Extra furniture and accessories can make your home look crowded and won’t allow buyers to see the space your home has. Keep essential furniture pieces and remove the rest.
Also, remember to remove personal items, including family photos, trophies, sports paraphernalia, and any other personal items. This will keep buyers from being distracted by these things and instead focus on buying the home.
Capture Some Great Photos
After improving your home, capturing some great photos is a good idea. But don’t be so quick to start snapping pictures using your smartphone. Although some highly advanced smartphones on the market take great photos, you should hire a photographer specializing in real estate photography. They will capture images that display your house in the most flattering manner.
See Your Home Through the Eyes of an Appraiser
You may be wondering, “What does an appraiser do?” Their job is to determine the value of a home. So, just like a home inspector, they will look at functional areas of the house like plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and more practical aspects of the home. Upon completing their inspection, they will place a value on the home. Are the bones of your home in good condition? Don’t just focus on cosmetic changes. Work on repairing or replacing items that could raise red flags, such as HVAC problems or bad roofing. Not addressing these issues could lead to delays in the closing process.
First-time homebuyers and seasoned homebuyers want to view a clean home with great potential. So, make sure your home is in sellable condition before you put it on the market. This will increase the buying pool and your chances of closing on your home.
