How to Prepare your House for Sale
- The Swan Team
- Mar 7, 2018
- 4 min read
If you plan to sell a home in 2018, watch this first!
What are your goals for 2018? Do they involve selling your home? If they do, then we want you to be successful! That’s why we are sharing how to prepare your house for sale. Keep reading to get The Swan Team’s checklist for selling your home for top dollar…faster!
How to Prepare your House for Sale
Selling your Home for Top Dollar…Faster!
If you plan to sell your home in 2018, then read this first. It's important to understand that the process of selling your home starts long before you go on the market. Your home is your most important investment. It matters who you work with and how you prepare your house for sale.
Checklist for Selling your Home
If you are planning on selling your home in the next three to six months, now is the time to prepare your house for sale. If you are planning on selling your home sooner, then know that we are in the middle of the best season to sell. The sooner that you can find a realtor you can trust the better.
It’s our job to make sure you understand every aspect of the real estate transaction. It may be a seller’s market in Orange County right, but homes that are prepared to go to market sell quicker and for top dollar. Preparing your house for sale is the difference between selling your home for top dollar and sitting on the market.
How to Prepare your House for Sale
Find a Realtor that you trust.
Interview at least two (preferably three) real estate agents to ensure you work with a realtor you trust. Make sure you feel comfortable with the person you choose.
Once you have found a Realtor you trust, TRUST your Realtor.
Listen to his/her recommendations
Ask questions – it’s a Realtor’s job to make sure you understand every aspect of the transaction!
Disassociate yourself from selling your home.
Think like a buyer who is coming to see your house for the first time.
Go to see a few other houses currently on the market. This will help you identify things a visitor might notice that you as the homeowner might not.
Maximize your curb appeal.
A buyer might not get out of their car, let alone take a tour the home, if your curb appeal isn’t on point. And, unfortunately, then the rest of this checklist wouldn’t matter. So, let’s talk curb appeal!
Mow the lawn
Plant vibrant flowers (yellow is said to evoke buying emotion)
Pull weeds
Trim any shrubs or bushes
Paint faded window trim and front door(s)
Add wreath(s) and welcome mat to greet visitors
Make sure the house number is clearly visible
De-personalize your interior.
De-clutter the inside of your home.
Rearrange bedroom closets and storage cabinets.
Alphabetize spice jars
Neatly stack dishes
Hang like clothing items together, buttoned and facing the same way
Line up shoes neatly
Consider renting a temporary storage unit.
You are going to have to move your belongings anyway.
Why not remove the non-essentials now so that your house looks neat, clean and like it has plenty of storage.
Remove/replace favorite items.
Buyers will presume everything they see comes with the sale, even if you indicate it isn’t included in the sale.
Hint: If the buyer never sees it, they couldn’t possibly want it.
Paint walls to neutral, classic and contemporary colors.
This one is simple but extremely effective!
Make minor repairs.
The Swan Team provides you with handyman services to accomplish these types of tasks:
Patch holes in walls
Fix leaky faucets
Replace cracked floor or counter tiles
Fix doors that don’t close properly and drawers that might jam
Replace burned-out light bulbs
Re-caulk tubs, showers, and sinks
Don’t just clean your home – make it shine!
Here’s your to-do list before showings and open houses:
Clean out the refrigerator (You’d be surprised at how many people open the fridge…it’s another time to wow potential buyers!)
Vacuum daily
Wax floors
Clean out cobwebs
Replace/remove worn rugs (If you have hardwood floors, let them stand out instead of covering them with rugs!)
Hang up fresh towels
Rent a pressure washer and spray down sidewalks as well as the exterior
Neutralize odors (But, the smell of fresh baked cookies is always welcome!)
Wash windows inside and out.
The Swan Team provides a professional service that will make your windows sparkle!
Make a list of all the upgrades/additions/changes you’ve made to your home.
Include any invoices, warranties or costs associated. (Be proud!)
Love Where You Live, Give Where You Love
We understand that your home is your dream come true. As homeowners, we realize that purchasing a home is probably the most important transaction you will make. As neighbors, we get that selling a home is perhaps the biggest transition your family will have.
You deserve to love where you live, give where you love, AND when the time comes….sell your home for top dollar…faster!
If you need help preparing to buy or sell in 2018 – for a free home valuation or buyer consultation – Contact Us Now!
The Swan Team | OC Real Estate
Love Where You Live | Give Where You Love
“We donate $500 to the school of your choice for every property you buy or sell!”
