Whether you're looking to upgrade, downsize, or simply explore new horizons, the decision to put your house on the market requires careful planning and preparation. In today's dynamic real estate landscape, where competition can be fierce and buyer expectations are evolving, it's important to ensure your property stands out and appeals to the right audience.
From finding a real estate agent, decluttering, to securing your home insurance, it can be hard to know where to begin. In this article, we’ll review six tips to help you prepare for putting your home on the market so you’re ready for every step of the process.
1. Handle Housekeeping Items
Before you put your house on the market, you’ll want to ensure it’s in the best possible condition. This includes clearing out old items and cleaning your living space. Here are some housekeeping tips to keep in mind as you prepare to sell your home:
Declutter: When your house is clutter-free, potential buyers can focus more on your actual home rather than all of your things. Begin by removing personal items, family photos, and excessive decorations to create a neutral, inviting space. Organize closets, cabinets, and storage areas to showcase the home's storage potential.
Deep Clean Your House: Wiping down surfaces, mopping floors, cleaning toilets, shampooing rugs and more is important to make sure your house looks its best. You could consider hiring a professional cleaner to ensure your house is spotless.
Stock Up On Light Bulbs: When showing your house, you’ll want to keep all light fixtures and lamps on, so make sure you have working and backup light bulbs.
Work On Your Curb Appeal: First impressions are crucial, and there are several inexpensive ways to increase your curb appeal. This can include power washing the exterior, including the driveway and walkways. You may also consider repainting or touching up the front door, trim, and other exterior elements as needed.
Get an Inspection: Getting a home inspection before putting your house on the market can help you identify any issues that may cause trouble when selling your house.
Stage Your Home: Staging your home can help potential buyers visualize how to use the space in your home and will also help it sell faster. Add fresh flowers, plants, or other decorative touches to create a welcoming atmosphere. Ensure all rooms are well-lit and are aesthetically appealing.
2. Find a Great Real Estate Agent
When it comes to selling your home, having a skilled and experienced real estate agent in your corner can make all the difference. A great agent acts as a trusted partner, guiding you through the complexities of the real estate market and ensuring you get the best possible outcome for your property.
As you search for a real estate agent, you’ll want to know what houses they’ve sold in your area, how long they’ve been in the industry, how they’ll market your home, and what they charge. You’ll want to evaluate a few agents and consider asking your friends and family for recommendations.
3. Create a Manageable Timeline
Depending on local market conditions, selling a house can take about two to four months from start to finish. But before it’s even on the market, there are quite a few things you’ll need to do to prepare. Once you’ve decided to sell, you’ll want to strategize with your agent about when to put your house on the market.
In the meantime, you’ll need to declutter, make repairs, get professional photos taken, and work on staging your home. Take the time to get organized on what you need to get done so you can set up a manageable timeline to prepare and get your house on the market.
4. Schedule Professional Photos to be Taken of Your Home
In today's digital age, where the majority of home buyers begin their search online, the visual representation of your property can play a crucial role in attracting potential buyers and making a lasting impression. Your realtor may have a professional photographer in mind, and they can help you stage your home to produce photos that resonate and appeal to buyers.
Experienced photographers have the expertise to capture the best angles, lighting, and features of your home, showcasing its strengths and highlighting its charm. They understand how to accentuate the property's most appealing aspects, from the spacious living areas to the outdoor spaces, creating images that attract prospective buyers.
5. Set a Realistic Price and Negotiate Offers
The pricing of your home can be the single most important factor when selling your home, and overpricing your home can cause you to lose a portion of potential buyers. While you may have an ideal price in your head, you’ll want to receive a professional estimate from your real estate agent as well as a comparative market analysis.
You may also have the opportunity to negotiate, so remember to consider all terms of the offer and not just the final listing price to ensure you get the best deal.
6. Avoid These Mistakes When Selling Your Home
Here are some things you’ll want to avoid doing when selling your home to ensure you attract prospective buyers:
Posting Low-Quality Photos: Photos are one of the first things that can pique a buyer’s interest. Not having the best lighting and the right angles can diminish the appearance of your home, so you’ll want to prioritize taking high quality photos.
Setting an Unrealistic Price: It’s easy to be biased about your own home, but making sure your house is priced fairly is the best way to ensure your home is sold in a reasonable amount of time. Setting the price on the lower side can help generate more offers and allow for negotiations.
Selling During the Winter Months: Winter time and around the holidays is often a slow time of year for home sales.
Hiding Major Problems: Any major problems with your home will be uncovered during the buyer’s inspection. You can either fix the problem ahead of time, adjust the price to account for the problem, or offer the buyer credit to fix the problem.
Easily Sell Your Home and Shop Home Insurance with SelectQuote
It can be stressful and emotional when selling your home. At SelectQuote, we’re here to take one of your stressors away, which is figuring out your home insurance coverage. When you’re ready to move into your next home, we can provide home insurance quotes from some of the most trusted carriers to find coverage that fits your needs and budget—all in just minutes, meaning you can focus on settling into your new space and trust your new home is protected.
