If you’ve decided to sell your house but don’t know what steps you’ll need to take, this article is for you. Prepare your house, find a listing agent, and get your home on the market for a quick sale.
1. Hire a Real Estate Agent to Sell Your House
When you’re trying to sell your house, a real estate agent is helpful to have throughout the process. They will be familiar with the local market and understand how to price your property according to local trends.
Your agent has the experience to negotiate for you. They have the resources to help you find a photographer, home inspector, and staging company to prepare the home for tours. The real estate agent will also take care of scheduling showings, listing your house online, and marketing the property for you.
2. Clean and Declutter
Create living spaces to help a buyer imagine themselves in the home. Clean the house thoroughly and remove clutter and personal belongings. Family photos, sports team memorabilia, and other personal items should be packed away. Rearrange the furniture to make living spaces look larger and more comfortable. The house should feel warm and welcoming.
3. Order a Pre-listing Home Inspection
A pre-listing inspection is a comprehensive inspection of a home performed by a professional. Your home inspector will identify issues before you list the home for sale. Fixing problems will often help you sell the house faster and for a better price.
If you forgo a pre-listing home inspection, expect your buyer to order one before closing. Significant problems detailed in the buyer’s inspection report could result in negotiations or in the buyer walking away from the sale.
4. Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is how your home looks from the road. It makes an impression on potential buyers and may affect whether or not they decide to tour your home. Improve the curb appeal before putting your property on the market.
- paint the front door
- add flowers to the front porch
- wash the windows
- clear debris and spiderwebs from eaves, windows, and porches
- make sure outdoor light fixtures are working
- keep shrubs, lawn, and trees nicely manicured
Taking care of the exterior will reassure a buyer that you have maintained the home.
5. Make Improvements
Repair leaky faucets, replace cracked tiles, clean the carpets, and make sure all electrical outlets are working properly. New cabinet hardware will update the look of the kitchen or bathroom. Paint the walls if the color is out of style or faded.
6. Sweeten the Deal to Sell Your House
In a buyer’s market, you will draw attention to your property by offering more than other sellers in the area. For example, you might offer to pay all or some of the closing costs. Talk to your real estate agent about the possibility of providing a home warranty for your buyer. These are usually inexpensive and help a buyer feel more confident about the purchase. If you haven’t recently replaced the household appliances, you could give an allowance for new machines.
You’ll have a lengthy to-do list as you prepare to sell your home and begin offering tours of your property. A real estate agent will guide you through the process and can help you, especially if your goal is a quick and easy transaction.
Jamie Schaefer Professional Home Inspector provides inspections in Metropolitan New York and Ocala, Florida. Contact us to request our services.