Is My Home Ready for Sale?

You’ve decided to put your beloved home up for sale…now what? Now its time to make sure your beloved home looks as loveable to others…specifically those who might give you a large amount of money for the keys. 

Here are the priorities: Fix, Maintain and Improve. 

Fix

The priority here is to eliminate any obvious deal-breakers. 

Roof repairs, air conditioning, furnace, water damage, flooring problems are all elements that even a novice home shopper will see and run! 

If you are selling in a time where inventory is lower, you may have some more flexibility. But if inventory is vast, these problems will eliminate your home before people even give it a legitimate thought. There is a possibility that a price can be listed with an allowance for repairs that can be done by the new owners. But the best practice is to get all major repairs done BEFORE the first open house. 

Maintain

The next place you should turn your attention to is indoor maintenance. Many people looking at your home are coming from previous homeownership and know what issues can crop up. Your job is to get as many things fixed or improved to eliminate as many barriers as possible. 

Bathrooms: Touch up the paint and add fresh caulking. 

Kitchen: Add fresh caulking and make sure your appliances are print-free.  

Windows: Check Insulation. If you are selling in the Fall or Winter this is very important. Older buyers will notice drafts immediately! 

Air Filters: If you are selling during the cold months, make sure your furnace doesn’t smell dusty. Your viewers may not know why the smell exists they will just not want to come back. 

Each Room: Dust thoroughly and check for cobwebs.

Improve

Depending on your timeline, small improvements can make a big difference. And remember, when it comes to Real Estate, these differences mean thousands of dollars or closing a sale months earlier. 

Outside: Clean the gutters, mow the lawn, trim branches, pull weeds and tasks like that. 

Flowers: If the season calls for it, add some flowers and spruce up the flower beds. 

Walkways: Keep them clean and debris-free. 

So that is a quick overview on preparing your home for sale! If I am your agent, I will be your number one advocate to make sure your home looks as good to strangers as it does to you. 

I can honestly say I’ve seen over a thousand homes that have been up for sale over the years and know what works and most importantly what doesn’t work. One of my main tasks is to help you eliminate the problems that will get your home rejected immediately. 

Please send me an email if you have any questions and I look forward to talking more!