Prepare Your Home To Sell
Buyers would like everything new, in the perfect location, for a low price. The reality is that they are buying a used home that may have some improvements at likely the upper end of their financial limit.
In order for a buyer to offer at the upper end of their limit, they have to feel that there is nothing that they need to address immediately. If a home is great, but the basement bathroom has a cracked sink or carpet, the buyer will want to save enough money from the purchase price to fix it at the highest potential cost. Sadly, the reduced price does not likely put the cash in the buyer’s pocket to correct the issue.
How does a seller get the highest offer possible from a buyer?
1. Make them feel that the home is well maintained.
2. Make them feel there is nothing they immediately need to address.
How does a seller accomplish this with a “used” home and a busy life?
The steps below start with the simplest and cheapest options.
Interior
1. Deep clean. If you are busy, hire a home cleaner to take it to the next level.
2. Wash windows.
3. talk to me about my home staging program if the home is vacant.
4. Declutter. Box up what you are not using and stack the boxes in the garage or basement.
5. Sell stuff that you are not using and will not move. Facebook marketplace is my personal favorite. If it does not sell, donate it to a charity.
6. Paint work areas. You do not necessarily need to paint a whole room. If one wall is in bad shape, you can paint and stop at every edge. Ask me about painting tips. I am a recovering house painter.
7. Deep clean carpeted areas. If they do not clean well, consider
Reach out to Sloane’s Carpet Secret 303-300-9555 for an affordable option. They buy factory 2nds and 3rds. I have seen carpet as cheap as 89 cents a sqft. They are fast with the quote and installation.
8. If you have pet or smoke smells, talk to me about getting an estimate for odor mitigation.
9. If your home is updated, but one bathroom is not, it may be worth your time and money to update it. Talk to me first.
Exterior
1. Curb appeal. Mow the grass, water it, and pull the weeds. Thumbtack.com can provide quick, affordable help for any home project.
2. Front porch? Stage it so it looks like you spend time there. Have a chair or two and a small table for your book and coffee.
3. Clean the light fixtures
4. Remove cobwebs.
5. Door paint faded? Paint it.
6. Door knob/lock beat up? Replace it.
7. Brick home. Consider tuck-pointing.
8 Edge the lawn if you have a front walk or sidewalk.
Beyond this list, call me. I will help you avoid wasting money on projects that you always meant to address but never got around to.
Pete
720-299-1127