7 Things to Do Before Listing Your Home
Are you planning on selling your home? Even before contacting a realtor, there are things you can do to prepare for the sale. That way you’ll be ahead of the game by the time the realtor shows up, and you can jumpstart the sales process.
Selling Fast Without the Prep
If you’re already intimidated by the words “7 things to do,” there is another option to consider. While most homeowners choose to put their houses on the market, real estate investment companies might make you a tempting offer that requires no repairs, improvements, or even listing. If you like the sound of that, skip to the end of this article for more information.
How to Prep Your House for Selling
- Do some deep-cleaning.
This means it’s time to do the spring cleaning that you have put off for the last couple of years; it’s much more than just a routine clean. It could include scrubbing baseboards, carpet cleaning, washing the walls, and dusting the chandelier. Pressure wash concrete outside, knock down spider webs on the porch and wash all the windows inside and out. Potential buyers love walking into a clean home. If you’re not sure what needs to be done, the fresh eyes of an honest friend may help.
- Make small repairs.
Replace the jiggly doorknob, patch holes in the drywall, replace burned-out lightbulbs, and re-mount the towel rod that fell off last summer. Small repairs like this do make a difference.
- De-clutter
De-cluttering isn’t just clearing off the flat surfaces around the house, though it should include that. If you’ve lived in the same home for many years, you’ve likely collected small knickknacks or decorations that have more sentimental than aesthetic value. A large shell collection may bring back wonderful vacation memories, but it will draw unnecessary attention from prospective buyers. It’s okay to leave a few out but put most away while you plan to show the house.
- Spruce up your grounds
Clutter sometimes extends to the yard in the form of weeds and overgrown shrubs. Weed the garden (either by hand or with spray), trim up your hedges, and lift tree canopies to allow for extra light and space. Look at the mulch in your beds and consider putting down a fresh layer if the current mulch has faded. Bright flowers, strategically placed, are an excellent way to invite buyers into your space.
- Repaint to neutral colors.
Not all potential buyers will love loud walls. Painting over the green accent wall with something neutral will help buyers imagine the space as they would like it to be instead of only seeing how you had it decorated.
- Identify any distinct smells.
The space you live in probably won’t smell like anything in particular to your own nose, but others may be able to identify the distinct seasonings you normally cook with or whether you own an indoor animal. Our first tip (deep-cleaning) is the best way to eliminate those smells. During a showing, puts litterboxes away and pets outside.
- Light up the space.
Buyers love well-lit spaces, so open the house up and turn on the lights during your showings. Well-placed floor or table lamps can add both class and light.
Selling to an Investor Instead
If all of this sounds like more of a headache than it is worth, consider selling to a home buying company. Houston Capital Home Buyers is a Houston-based company that also buys in other cities and across the country.
Our record is exemplary. In ten years, we have purchased $26 million worth of homes, and we have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Selling to us is fast. Contact us if you’re interested, and we’ll return your offer in 24 hours or less. We won’t pressure you to make a decision, though; you can decline or accept whenever you feel ready.
Selling to Houston Capital Home Buyers has proved to be the best option for many homeowners. If it’s not for you, that’s okay. Follow the seven suggestions in this article to prepare to work with a realtor and to set yourself up for a successful sale.
