Did you know that the average home stays on the market for just under 30 days from listing to closing? This average can be ideal for most sellers, but the unfortunate truth is that many people find themselves waiting weeks or even months for the right buyer to bite.
That’s why it helps to make a few key preparations before selling your home. Whether you’re listing with an agent, doing the sale yourself, or selling your property online, doing your due diligence on the front end can pave the way for a smooth transaction. Here’s what you should know before selling your home.
Decide on a Strategy
Despite popular opinion, partnering with a real estate agent isn’t the only way to sell your home. Sellers who don’t mind investing their time into research can also go the For Sale By Owner (FSBO) route, though this will involve a great deal of additional effort. The main perk of FSBO homes, of course, is that you won’t have to pay a costly commission fee—often around 5-6% of a home’s sale price—upon closing.
Another way to avoid commission fees without putting energy and expense into your home is to work with a cash buyer. These experts allow the smart homeowner to get a fair price for their home in its current state, and closings tend to happen within days instead of weeks or months. For more information, check out memphis.webuyhouses.com.
Make Basic Repairs and Upgrades
No matter which option you’re going with, it can help to make a few basic repairs and upgrades that offer a solid ROI.
Note that you’ll want to strike a balance between an “as is” home and a turnkey property. Be careful about the upgrades you invest your time in, as certain projects won’t make a difference in terms of your home’s value.
A fresh coat of paint, for example, can give you a return of 107%, and easy fixes like landscaping or installing new kitchen fixtures can be a great help as well.
Do a Deep Cleaning
You might be surprised at the negative effect that a messy space can have on a potential buyer’s mindset. Cleaning your entire home, both inside and out, can offer buyers a distraction-free look at what they could be getting. It can also keep them from wondering whether or not you’ve let your maintenance and repair tasks fall by the wayside along with household cleanliness!
You can create a sales-ready home on your own by decluttering and carefully cleaning each room, including things you might not normally touch like your windows and walls. Don’t forget the outside as well: power-washing areas like the porch and patio can offer a great boost to your curb appeal.
Invest in Curb Appeal
First impressions make a huge difference, and that’s true in the home sale process as well. Take some time to spruce up the outside of your home with a one or more of these tried-and-tested methods:
- Repaint your door
- Hang a seasonal wreath or garland
- Create a seating area on the porch
- Trim overgrown hedges or trees
- Upgrade your porch lighting
- Add potted flowers or flower boxes
- Use lawn paint to make dry grass greener
These simple fixes are easy ways to showcase a beautiful image from the second buyers step out of the car.
Depersonalize Your Space
It’s hard for buyers to envision themselves in their dream home when the entire space is filled with a stranger’s belongings. That’s why depersonalization is crucial: the goal is to make the house feel like a blank slate.
Go through each room and minimize the number of personal belongings within it. This can be tricky if you’re still living at home while you’re selling. However, storing things you don’t use—like family photos, collections, and other personal touches—can make each room into a neutral backdrop for potential buyers.
Installing patio covers can subtly depersonalize your home by creating a versatile outdoor space that appeals to a broad range of tastes and preferences, making it more appealing to potential buyers or guests.
Set the Right Price
Before you list, it’s important to make sure you’re setting a price that will catch buyers’ attention without undervaluing your home. Depending on the selling method you’ve chosen, this can sometimes be harder than it sounds.
When you work with an agent, you can rely on their experience and tools to help you find a fair price. With the FSBO process, you’ll either have to do your own research via a competitive market analysis, or you’ll have to pay a local agent to do this on your behalf. With a cash buyer, you’ll simply shop around to find the buyer who offers you the best quote.
Stage and Market Your Home
These last steps are optional, especially if you’re selling via a cash buyer, but they can often be helpful if you’ve gone the traditional route.
Staging your home involves enhancing your décor in ways that highlight your property’s best features. Upgrading your lighting, putting up finishing touches like placemats or towels, and thoughtfully arranging your furniture can help.
When it comes to marketing, you’ll need to invest in quality photos of your home or even a virtual tour. The best sellers will also put up signage, print out flyers, and put ads in local papers. Don’t forget about an open house and tours to show off your space!
Use These Tips for Selling Your Home
Because the outcome is so uncertain, selling your home can feel like a frustrating process—but there are plenty of things you can do to improve your chances of an easy sale. From cleaning your space to enhancing your home’s features, laying the groundwork before you list your property can help. Be sure to try the tips above as you move forward in the selling process!
Want more of the tips you need to make the most of your real estate? Be sure to check out our other content for more insights.
