Spring is officially here. If you are selling your house this year but you’re not sure what you should do before putting your home on the market, here is a checklist to get you started.
Step #1: Clean and declutter
Get a storage unit, get some trash bags and start cleaning your house out. If you have excess garbage and things you’ve been meaning to get rid of, get rid of it. If you have stuff on the counters taking up space and doesn’t show well or is not necessary, get rid of it. The idea is that you want your closets organized, you want the garage and basement to be walkable, you don’t want kid’s toys everywhere, and you don’t want the counters filled up with a bunch of stuff. Too much “stuff” makes your house feel claustrophobic and closed off to buyers. Also, it makes them feel like they are invading someone else’s space when this is supposed to potentially be theirs. They need to envision where they are going to throw all of their stuff. They can’t visualize “their home” when it is overflowing with your things. Make sure that you take a significant amount of time cleaning out your home.
Step #2: Make simple repairs or fix known safety issues
Take care of any obvious repairs. I know some people don’t believe in fixing anything until the buyer’s have their inspection. I believe that if you take care of any safety issues in the home before you go on the market, it will pay off. Buyers tend to exaggerate problems or get spooked by them, so fixing those items prior to selling will be worth the ROI.
Safety issues aside, if you have any obvious minor cosmetic repairs like a leak in your sink, take care of it. If you have light bulbs that are burned out, replace them. For example, I have buyers who will walk through a home and point out peeling drywall tape and naturally wonder if it’s a structural problem. I inform them that a painter can fix that, and it is just cosmetic, but it still changes the way they feel about the house. So, anything like that which puts the buyers at ease, not covering up a real problem, but just fixing cosmetic issues, do it now; it will pay off in the long run and make your house show better.
Step #3: Focus on your curb appeal
Get out in the yard and start cleaning up that landscaping. You should pull weeds, mow the grass, edge, clean up the side of the house, power wash your siding, paint your shutters, whatever you have to do to make your curb appeal look great. There’s a saying that says, “if people don’t like the way your house looks on the outside, there’s no way they are going to go inside”. I’ve seen buyers who have bought a house that looks great on the outside but is only okay on the inside, and pass up houses that were the opposite. Working on your curb appeal and giving your house a “haircut” will pay off and be one of the number one things you can do to get people through your home and maximize your profits.
Step #4: Should you renovate?
The decision to renovate to sell your house can be complicated. Should you do a bathroom renovation, put in new carpet, or replace the floors? That is very specific to your home, the housing market, the neighborhood, and the competing homes for sale. I would say that right now; we are in an extreme seller’s market. Because of that, many of those renovations you think you have to do to sell your house aren’t necessary right now. Now, in 2022 or 2023, that might not be the same story. Maybe then it might make more sense to do certain renovations. The point is that you should talk to a realtor, have them come and evaluate your house, assess the market, and they can walk you through any upgrades that need to be done.
Step #5: Staging consultation
I think most people are familiar with staging. That can be painting the house a little bit and freshening it up or adding furniture and decor. Your goal is to make your house look like a builder’s model home. If you are selling a place that is being lived in and furniture is already present, you can call a staging company and even talk to an experienced realtor who can tell you how to arrange what you have. If you are selling a vacant home, it is a good idea right now to talk to a staging company and put in that investment. I know all the research shows that a staged home sells more than a vacant home. Stagers also typically charge over time. Knowing staging tends to increase your profit margin, and that you will also likely pay less due to how quickly homes are selling, it makes it a no-brainer right now.
That’s it! That’s an essential checklist to get you started.
Happy house hunting, and happy selling. Have a great day!