There is a period of preparation prior to when you sell your home. It’s called the Pre-Listing Stage.
Whether you work with a Realtor or attempt to sell your home on your own, this process should not be skipped. We can guarantee that the success of the sale of your home is heavily dependent on what you do before putting your house up for sale. Every home is different so the list of items to complete during this phase varies.
generally, there are 10 major preparation items you want to at least consider
This is really important! You want prospective buyers to see the best your home has to offer. Cluttered counters, rooms piled high with storage, and dirty surfaces will only be a distraction. Take it one room at a time. Sort through items to determine what you’re keeping and what you’re getting rid of. Make sure whatever you’re keeping has a place it belongs to. Organize your closets, shelving, and cupboards. Buyers will be checking these so let them see how much space is available!
For most prospective buyers, these two rooms will make or break the deal for them if they don’t match their expectations. Spend a lot of time here! Deep clean every surface. Remodel if needed/possible. Show off any special features.
For the rest of the rooms in your home, consider steaming/washing the carpets, repaint old paint, polish hardwood floors, check the windows, test doors, etc. The best rule of thumb is to see what stands out to you after you’ve fully cleaned a room. If you notice a blemish, mark, or broken items, this is your chance to get rid of them.
Power-washing can be an efficient and effective way to make your home’s siding look amazing. Generally, it will remove any mold and dirt that’s collected from environmental factors. Afterwards, check for any broken tiles, damaged planks, watermarks on the stucco, etc. If you see any of these, consider getting them repaired or updated before listing your home. Buyers will notice and it’ll reflect in the types of offers you’ll receive.
By this we’re referring to the lawn, landscaping, hardscaping, and driveway. Keep the lawn clean and healthy. Add any flowers, shrubs, or other plants if feasible. Refresh the mulch or stone features. Have any fountains or statues? Clean them. Power-wash the driveway and fix any breaks you see. Make sure the pathways leading to your home’s entrances are clear, clean, and safe to walk on.
You don’t have to fix everything you come across but there are some simple, minor repairs that are worth the effort. These include items such as replacing lightbulbs, fixing a squeaking door, changing a broken screen, refitting a leaky faucet, etc.
This can range from organizing toys, cornering off areas for their use, removing any unpleasant odors, etc. It can be hard to handle when you’ll still be living in the space so have a plan for how to keep up with this. Create a timeline, get your kids involved, and corner off sections of the home for their primary use or to stay out of.
If your home has several outdated features and you have the time and means to upgrade them, it may be worth doing! As mentioned earlier, kitchens and bathrooms are the areas you want to start with due to their popularity. Before undergoing any upgrade, do your research. Talk to your Realtor. Make sure it’s worth the effort – and by that we mean make sure it will add value to your home.
Staging is presenting each room in its best possible light. This can range from rearranging furniture to incorporating general décor pieces. Sometimes you can do this yourself but there are professionals who can do this for you. They’ll either use what’s currently in your home or bring in their own. If you do this yourself, start with removing any personal items and then look at what’s on trend for interior home design.
It’s so worth it! Photos are the starting point for prospective buyers. They will be a buyer’s true first impression of your home…and with the changes in the industry, it may be the only way they view your home. That means it’s important to have clear, well lit, and high-quality photos.
Our team has YEARS of experience helping sellers do all of this and more. We also have a large number of connections to related professionals who can come out and help you with almost every step. The pre-listing stage can take some time so don’t wait to get started!
Fill out the form to get in touch with our team today!