Top 10 Things You Need To Do Before Selling Your Home

This is the time of year when the spring market hits and there is change in supply and demand in the housing market! It is the busiest time for Real Estate Agents and for buyers and sellers as well. The process of selling your home and moving can be very daunting and intimidating. Moving is a HUGE life change and it is never easy no matter the circumstance.

If you are thinking about selling your home, check out this list of things you need to do.

1. Hire a Real Estate Agent

The very first thing that you need to do before selling your home is hire a Real Estate Agent. Real Estate Agents will answers any and all questions you have.  Most importantly, they will ease your fears. Your Real Estate Agent will do a Comparative Market Analysis on your home and provide you with your home’s fair market value.

Once you understand the fair market value, it’s time to price your home accordingly, so that it sells in a timely manner and at the highest possible price. The agent will also inform you of the costs associated with selling your home.

Okay, so now you know the price you need to sell, you know an idea of the costs associated with selling your home and you can determine what your net proceeds will be.

2. Prepare Documents

There is a list of documents you will need to gather in order to list your home. It is a good idea to have this information prior to meeting with your listing agent to sign the listing agreement. You will need to have the following documents;

1. Last years tax bill
2. Survey
3. Account numbers for mortgage
4. 2 copies of keys for the property
5. Invoices for repairs that were completed on the property
6. A list of inclusions and exclusions in the sale
7. Declarations/Covenants/Deeds (if applicable)
8. Utility bills or monthly costs of utilities
9. Information on special assessments (if applicable)
10. Homeowners condo association information (if applicable)
    1. Amount
    2. Company
    3. Address
    4. Contact Name
    5. Phone Number

3. Declutter

Once you have chosen a listing agent, prepared the necessary documents and have a time line in place, it is time to declutter. Yes, the fun part. No matter how long your have lived in your home or how large or small it is, everyone has STUFF. I think we can all agree that there is simply STUFF we do not need. The clothes we kept that we might fit into, the toys that we are afraid to throw away because there are memories attached to it, the piece of furniture you have had for years that just collects dust. The goal is CLEAN, CLEAR and EMPTY. The less stuff, the larger the space appears and the cleaner the home looks.

4. Remove Big Furniture

Once you have decluttered and freed up some space, guess what… It is time to free up more space :). There is nothing more deceiving then big furniture in a room, especially a small room. It is very simple… although it served a purpose, big furniture in a small room or even a mid-sized room, makes the space appear smaller. I understand it may not be feasible to move a couch out of a room, but if you have large coffee tables, chairs etc. and it is not too cumbersome to move them, then do it, even if you have to store the furniture in the garage.

5. Depersonalize Your Home

The next thing you need to do before selling your home, is depersonalize it. This is something that really hits home for most. After all, it is still “your” home. Believe it or not, some people can be turned off, just because you are rooting for a sports team they don’t like. Also, it may be a good idea to remove any religious items that are out in the open. You never want to limit your buyer in any way.

6. Complete Any Necessary Repairs

If you have not already done so, it is time to fix any outstanding repairs in your home. Not only is first impression everything, but you do not want to get far into the sale, just to have a list of items that come back in the inspection. This could cost you time and money and in some cases even the sale. Get it done ahead of time and do it right. If you do something that requires a permit, get the permit! Don’t do any work without a permit. It will come back to you later and can hinder the sale.

7. Give the Outside of the Home a Face Lift

Curb appeal is very important when selling your home. The exterior is often the first thing that people see. If the outside looks tired, you are setting the tone for the rest of the viewing. If your home needs a fresh coat of paint, some landscaping, or maybe some shutters to brighten things up, it is worth the work and often times the money to make the exterior of your home look fresh. Sometimes you just need to power wash your home. Whatever it takes, make sure the exterior shines!

8. Paint

The next thing you want to do before selling your home is paint. It is one of the most important things you can do to help sell your home. Every home withstands wear and tear. It is inevitable, especially if you have kids. There is nothing like a fresh coat of paint to make your home look clean and fresh. Opt for neutral colors, not your favorite colors. It is often best to paint in one color throughout.

9. Clean

Clean, clean and then clean some more. If the home is not clean and well kept, buyers will often wonder what else is not kept up. They start to question the integrity of the home. Make sure the home is tidy at the very least prior to any and all showings. I know it’s a lot of work, but it could make or break a sale.

10. Lock Up Valuables

Do not take any chances. If you have something valuable, LOCK IT UP. You should have a safe that is attached to the wall. If you do not own a safe, then move your jewelry and other valuables to a secure location. People make it a living stealing things out of homes on the market.

If you need ideas and tips and tricks how to organize your home, check out the Home Organization Tips section of my blog!

For tips and tricks on how to declutter your home, check out this link!

For a list of things you need to do before selling your home, check out the list below;

1. Hire a Listing Agent
2. Prepare Documents
3. Declutter
4. Remove Big Furniture
5. Depersonalize Your Home
6. Complete Any Necessary Repairs
7. Give the Outside of the Home a Face lift
8. Paint
9. Clean
10. Lock up Valuables

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