As you might have heard, it’s a buyer’s market. Which is great! If you’re a buyer.
But most of us have to sell our current home before setting off on the path to that new, Louisville home of our dreams. Fear not, selling your home isn’t impossible and these five keys to preparing your home for sale will make sure your home is a cut above the competition.
If you’re saying, “Sell my home fast!” then here are the five big keys. Let’s go!
1. De-clutter, De-clutter, and De-clutter Some More
The mantra of the professional home organizer is, “If you haven’t used something in the past year, you probably don’t need to keep it.” It’s amazing what you’ll find in the back of the closet or the corner of the basement. Those are just the hidden spots!
What about the ridiculous amount of tchotchkes we all have lying around the family room? Take the time to go through each room with the mindset of removing as much as possible. This grants the benefits of both making the room look cleaner and larger!
2. Clean like Your Boss Is Visiting
There is clean and then there’s really clean. We all have personal preferences as to how clean or organized our living spaces must be. When it comes to selling your home fast, your house can’t be too clean. Begin outside. When a potential buyer drives up to the curb or your driveway, they’re already assessing your house. Spend a full Saturday outside trimming the shrubs, sweeping the walkway, and generally making the outdoor presentation of your home spotless.
3. Pre-Inspection Is Both Good Marketing and Makes the Real Estate Deal Smoother
Ask your Realtor® for their recommendation on a good home inspector. Having a pre-inspection (which runs $250-$450 depending on the size of your home) is a great investment. First, it identifies any problems with your house that you can correct. This takes a potential negative for a buyer and turns it into a positive because it’s newly improved.
Second, add to your listing description that the home has been pre-inspected and repairs have been made. This is great marketing! These days, most buyers are looking for “move-in ready” and don’t want projects waiting for them in their new home. If you’ve already taken care of the problems, that’s another check mark in your home’s favor.
4. Repair, Improve or Remove
This piggybacks on the previous point. Some repairs like a leaky pipe or broken window, are easy to identify and should be corrected. Others may be more difficult to judge. As a general rule, if the safety of the occupants is in question, definitely make the repair. If something is broken and not functioning as it should, you should likely correct that as well. Work with your Realtor® to identify which items should be repaired and which might not be worth the investment.
5. Gather Vital House Documents
Buyers like to see homeowners that care for their property. Having all the warranty papers, average utility bills, homeowner association fee statements, deed restrictions, and other home-related documents on hand for their review tells them clearly that you care.
One last point, pricing your home appropriately is vital to selling quickly. After that, complete these five steps and you will put your property above the competition and you’ll be well on your way to finding a buyer who’ll love your home.
