(Content submitted by Lisa Roberts.)
From the experience of sellers and their real estate agents, a home sells faster and at a better price if it fulfills certain criteria. Go through our home selling checklist and see if your home is ready before you put it on the market. It is likely you have already covered some of these tips through your regular maintenance work. Still, take your time to get familiar with the ten important constituents of a successful home sale.
Home selling checklist
Our home selling checklist features a selection of necessary actions that should assure your home is in top shape for viewing. What is it that the buyers expect to see? A home that is well-kept, clean, easy to maintain and visually appealing, and a seller that relies on professionals for assistance in a vital endeavor such as home-selling. To ensure this and impress potential buyers, you need to:
- Hire an experienced and licensed real estate agent
- Gather important paperwork
- Make repairs throughout the house
- Declutter your home
- Rent a self-storage unit
- Boost your curb appeal
- Repaint, reglaze, regrout
- Thoroughly clean your house
- Hire a staging professional and a photographer
- Make your home less personal
1. Hire a high-class real estate agent
Only a real estate agent with experience can aim to sell your home for top dollar. A good real estate agent should be available for all your inquires and easy to communicate with. They should be able to provide you with a clear and detailed home-selling plan and a realistic listing price. An agent should be knowledgeable about the local market, whether your neighborhood is in Eastern Oregon or in the Portland Metro area, have a valid license and good connections with buyers. Don’t hesitate to interview a few professionals before you find the one you feel comfortable cooperating with.
2. Gather important papers
Homebuyers appreciate every assistance they can get after they move into their new home. You can make your home more competitive by gathering and organizing all your paperwork. It is more than helpful to offer your potential buyers a record of repairs, maintenance schedules, contacts of utility companies, and warranties for various appliances and systems. The impression that they are inheriting a well-organized and smoothly running system is priceless at a stressful time such as the search for a new home.
3. Make essential repairs
You have probably been living in your home for too long to notice little things that need to get fixed or repaired. This is why it is vital to ask professionals to inspect your house and make the necessary repairs. There are two types of renovations you may face – structural and cosmetic. Hopefully, your home maintenance has been regular and thorough.
Still, some parts of your house may require attention due to its age. Check your roof, gutters, plumbing, electricity, security, and HVAC systems first. If structural repairs are not on your home selling list, fix any loose stairs or boards, change old handles or doorknobs, add lightbulbs where they are missing and repaint your mailbox.
4. Get rid of the clutter
Disposing of excess is not just beneficial to you but to buyers as well. It is easier to asses available space, including storage space, if your home isn’t cluttered. Consider donating your excess belongings to local charities first. Things that you can’t donate, you can try to sell. Yard and garage sales are a smart way to declutter and perhaps even earn a little. Everything else that you don’t plan to keep, you should dispose of responsibly and in an eco-friendly way.
5. Rent a storage unit
However, decluttering is only the first step. Once you remove the excess, think toward home staging. Renting a nearby storage unit is a cost-efficient and safe option. Storing away your heavy, bulky or old furniture has a few advantages. An open space floor plan and an illuminated home will leave a much better impression on buyers. Renting temporary storage will also make you consider if keeping those furniture pieces is truly necessary.
6. Improve your curb appeal
Landscaping and power-washing are a priority if you have a yard and a driveway. Your curb is meant to leave a good first impression and, hence, is a vital part of the home selling checklist. Mow your lawn, purchase new flower beds or perennials, and trim your trees and bushes. Also, consider investing in outdoor lighting to create a wow-effect.
7. Add a coat of paint for a fresh, new look
Freshly painted surfaces leave an impression of clean and new and shouldn’t be underestimated. Walls, doors, kitchen cabinets, the porch, and even the stairs may need a layer or two of paint. Both for protection and cosmetic purposes. Also, reglaze your bathtub or regrout your tiles if necessary. When it comes to painting your walls, keep to neutral colors that are likely to appeal to many buyers. Light tones reflect light and are more visually appealing.
8. Thoroughly clean your house
Once all the hard and messy work is done, hire a cleaning service to deep clean your home. Focus not only on floors, doors, windows, and bathroom and kitchen surfaces but also on appliances, carpets, furniture, and curtains. Keeping your home tidy after renovation with professional cleaning should be easy. It is a great relief when you don’t have to worry about the last-minute viewings.
9. Hire a staging expert and a professional photographer
As a final step in the home selling preparation process, stage your home to daze the visitors. Hire professionals to present your home in its best light. Every new generation of buyers has different expectations and requests and being constantly in the business is vital to fulfilling those expectations. An experienced staging expert should recognize the advantages of your home and emphasize them, and a professional photographer should capture those highlights.
10. Make your home less personal to appeal to more buyers
Over time, we personalize our homes and grow oblivious to the small things around us. Your personal belongings may prevent potential buyers from imagining themself living in your home. Store away family portraits and photos, awards, bold artwork, kids’ toys, magazines, and especially your valuables.
