Selling a house can be stressful and the most stressful part of the process is waiting for buyers to find your property in the first place.
Most homes stay on the market for an average of 65 to 93 days. This is great news for sellers. It means that finding a qualified buyer is relatively easy.
However, there’s more to getting ready to sell your house than just putting it on the market and waiting for buyers to make an offer. You need to be proactive.
Here are a few must-follow steps to get your house ready to sell as quickly as possible.
1. Find a Realtor
Before you start getting ready to sell your home, you need to find someone to help you with the process. Look for a local real estate agent that is familiar with homes like yours and can help you price your home appropriately.
If you’re not sure where to start, ask your neighbors, coworkers, and friends for a recommendation. Chances are that someone in your network has a real estate agent they trust.
Though it’s possible to sell a house on your own, working with a real estate agent will take much of the stress out of the process. They’ll market your house and help you find the right buyer as quickly as possible.
2. Declutter Your Home
Before you open your home for tours and open houses, you’ll need to get rid of those little-used items taking up space in your house. This will make your home look and feel cleaner even when you don’t have time to clean between showings.
Clear off tabletops, countertops, and shelves in common areas. Go through your home room by room and get rid of items that you no longer use or want. If they’re in good condition, you can either donate the items or sell them at a garage sale.
Once you do, avoid the temptation to buy replacements until you move. This will help you keep your house clutter-free while it’s on the market. As an added bonus, decluttering will make packing up and moving much easier!
3. Give the Landscaping Some TLC
Your home’s exterior is the first thing prospective buyers see when they arrive. If your landscaping is overgrown or in disrepair, it can make your entire house look rundown and may even discourage buyers from going inside.
Give your landscaping a little TLC. Get rid of weeds in your garden beds, mow the lawn, and hire a tree service to prune your trees and shrubs.
If you have time, head to your local garden center and pick up some colorful potted plants to make your landscaping pop. These little touches will go a long way toward making your property look as nice as you know it is.
4. Clean the House Inside and Out
The easiest way to make your house look great for prospective buyers is to give it a good deep cleaning before you put it on the market and again once a month.
Wipe down every surface in your home to get rid of dust. Wash the windows inside and out to let in as much natural light as possible. Get rid of any long-standing stains on the carpet or cover them with accent rugs or furniture if needed.
Vacuum the carpet thoroughly and if it doesn’t seem to get clean, schedule a professional carpet cleaning appointment before your first showing. Head outside sweep the walkway, driveway, and porch to get rid of old plant debris and dirt. If the siding looks dingy, consider pressure washing it to give your home an instant facelift.
The cleaner your home looks, the more welcoming and inviting it will be for prospective buyers.
Remember, this isn’t a one-time thing. You’re going to have to clean your home every week to stay on top of the buildup.
5. Remove Personal Touches
Buyers like to be able to picture themselves in your home. It helps them decide if the property is the right fit or if they need to keep looking.
If you have tons of personal touches around or decorations that aren’t considered mainstream, buyers will find it hard to picture their belongings inside. The best thing you can do is remove those personal touches to create a blank slate.
Put away family photos and mementos that hold sentimental rather than decorative value. You can put them back out once you move to your new home.
6. Fix Minor Issues
Buyers love looking for reasons not to offer the asking price on homes for sale. Every minor repair issue they can identify during a showing is a potential discount on the asking price.
Stay ahead of the game by taking care of those small repairs when getting your house ready to sell. Replace missing or burned-out light bulbs, tighten loose screws, and repaint scuffed walls and trim.
This will make your home look more pristine and better maintained. Even better, it will keep buyers from low-balling you when they make an offer.
7. Invest in Professional Photos
Most prospective buyers begin their home search online. This means you’re going to want to invest in high-quality professional photos of your home.
Hire an experienced real estate photographer and let them take pictures of the interior and exterior of your home. If you don’t have a photographer in mind, ask your real estate agent for a few recommendations.
They’ll be able to help you find an expert that will work with your budget.
Getting Ready to Sell Your House Can Be Easy
Putting your house on the market can be stressful. There’s a lot to do to prepare, but the sooner you start getting ready to sell your house, the better off you’ll be.
Follow these key tips and you’ll have your house show-ready in no time. Just make sure to stay on top of cleaning and repairs as long as your home is on the market. This way, you’ll get the best price possible.
Looking for more tips and tricks to help you sell your house quickly? Check out our latest posts.
