Top 10 Things to Do to Sell Your Home Fast

Get ready to put your home on the market with this handy “To Do” list as your guide. Let the bidding war begin!

Home Selling Checklist:

1. Conduct market research to determine the best time to sell your home based on similar comps in your area and the local market.

2. Make repairs. Small maintenance issues can make potential buyers turn tail. Replace broken light bulbs and make sure the annoying drip from your faucet is repaired. And while you are at it, fix slow drains, cracked windows and loose door handles and drawer knobs before you list to reap maximum rewards after.

3. Declutter and depersonalize. It’s a classic case of less is more. Your rooms will look larger with fewer pieces of furniture and decorative items. A kitchen counter cleared of paraphernalia is more appealing to potential buyers than a cluttered surface. Pack up the collection of silver-framed family photos. Rid your frig of all the magnets you’ve picked up on your family vacations. Potential buyers need a blank canvas to envision their personal belongings at home in your house, and you’ll enjoy the added bonus of getting a jump on your house packing!

4. Clean, clean, and clean some more. It’s elbow grease time! We can dismiss our own dirt, but others can’t. Crumbs on countertops, food bits in the sink, and hair in the drain is off-putting. If ever you were going to be obsessive-compulsive, now is the time. Banish those dust bunnies under your sideboard. Plump pillows. Make your bed, every day. Place dirty dishes in the dishwasher. Keep dirty clothes in the hamper. You never know when a last-minute showing will take place, so be prepared. Yes, it’s a pain, but it will pay off.

5. Make updates. Make your home seem cleaner by replacing or refurbishing flooring. This includes professionally cleaning your carpeting or installing new. Jettison the wonky blinds with their gnarled cords and add functional and fresh window treatments. Replace that “mid-century modern” light fixture. Simple, cost-effective updates will make a world of difference.

6. Repaint walls in neutral colors. Remember, not everyone embraces color as you do. You think your navy living room is dramatic; a potential buyer thinks it’s dreary. Your love your dining room walls, with their traditional toile wallpaper. Others see wallpaper and think, Grandma! There is a huge camp of homebuyers who can’t imagine getting after it with a can of paint. Don’t forget to touch up scuff marks on trim, baseboards, and doors to appeal to move-in ready buyers. 

7. Add small but powerful touches. Channel your inner HGTV star and get staging. Plants and fresh flowers add a welcoming feel. Set out fresh hand towels and decorative soaps to the bathrooms and a bowl of fresh fruit in the kitchen. Do a smell test, too. We become immune to the smell of our own home. Wet dog and cat litter are NOT  welcoming scents. Have a (brutally honest) friend do a sniff test before you list and eliminate any odors he or she finds.  

8. Store valuables and medicines during showings. Closets, cupboards, medicine cabinets – nothing is off-limits. Since it’s difficult for an agent to be everywhere in an open house setting, take preemptive measures to protect your belongings.

9. Create curb appeal. Your mother always said that first impressions are important. The exterior of your property should invite a potential buyer to come in! Mow the lawn and trim your bushes. Add colorful flower pots or a cheery door wreath. Make sure your windows are clean (there’s that elbow grease again!) and the front porch is swept. Repair or replace faulty exterior lighting. Paint your front door or update its hardware. 

10. Schedule a photoshoot. You’ve worked hard to present your home in the best light. Now preserve this effort with a professional photo shoot that includes exterior drone footage, interior photographs, and 360 degrees virtual home tour.  

 

* Specific loan program availability and requirements may vary. Please get in touch with your mortgage advisor for more information.