Being one of your most substantial financial assets, selling a house requires a thoughtful amount of time as well as some organized planning. After all, you probably want to get the best deal on your house so that you can efficiently use those resources elsewhere. If you too are among those planning on this line, then “how to get your house ready to sell”, is likely to be the main question in your head.
That’s where we want to help you out. From how you can start planning the process to a few tactics that you can use; we’ve covered everything that you need to know to get your house ready to sell.
Step-By-Step Guide To Get Your House Ready To Sell
Ideally, the more time you have in hand for selling your house, the better prepared you can be to get the best deal. You can begin the planning process as early as four to six months before so that you have ample time in hand to take care of all the necessities. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get your house ready to sell.
4 Months Before
Research The Housing Market
While the real estate market is rather unpredictable, researching your local housing market will give you an idea of what you can be expecting and how you could be figuring out your listing price. You can have a look at sites like Zillow and Realtor to check out and compare the sales of other properties in your neighborhood.
Along with the pricing, you should also take note of the comps’ location, square foot, and all available features as well. This will help you to figure out the approximate listing price of your house.
Pick An Ideal Listing Date
To make the most out of your deal, it is important that you list your house on the market when it is the most active. In most areas, the latter months of spring are the time when you can get the hottest deal for your house. There are high chances of not only maximizing your profits but also minimizing your time on the market if you list your house during these months.
However, this ideal time could also vary with your location. For instance, in some areas the summer months might be a good time to list your house because of the climatic conditions. It is best that you study your local area and then finalize the ideal time to sell your house.
Find A Listing Agent
When you’ve decided to sell your house, you have two ways to go about it. You can either go through the entire process on your own, that is, sell FSBO (For Sale By Owner), or hire a realtor to assist you with the job. Though you will have to arrange for their fee, you can still easily lift some stress off your shoulders by hiring a listing agent as they can help market your house well and also get attractive deals for you.
From prospective buyers to the required paperwork, an agent will take care of all these things for you, giving you ample time to focus on the other necessities. If you’re running short on time or are looking to maximize your profits, we suggest approaching a listing agent to get the best deal out there.
Also See: Choosing Realtor for Buying New House
Assess The Condition Of Your House
The price that you get for your house will mainly depend on the condition of your house. So, before you decide on your listing price, assess the condition of your house from inside as well as outside. To simplify the process, you can get a home inspection done and then based on the reports, decide the repairs that need to be handled. You can choose to work on some minor repairs to enhance the market value of your house. This assessment will also help you decide an appropriate listing price for your house.
Also See: Best Home Staging Tips
2 Months Before
Declutter Your House And Maximize The Space
This is probably going to be a difficult step in the process, especially if you’re too emotionally invested in your house. Deciding to sell your house is easier said than done for many. You must have grown up in that house or have spent some of your best times there, and moving all those things apart can get difficult for a few people. When you decide to sell your house, it is best that you leave the emotional aspect aside so that you can make the most out of the deal.
Messy, crowded rooms or free, empty spaces, which is more appealing? For a majority of the potential buyers, it has to be the latter. So, if you want to attract potential buyers and get the best deal for your house, it is important that you declutter as much as possible and maximize the available space. You should consider renting out a storage unit at this point in time, so it becomes easier for you to manage the space in your house.
From closets to all your other storage spaces, make sure your items aren’t overflowing and are kept in a well-organized manner. This will shift the buyer’s focus on the actual house and will also give them a realistic picture of all the features available in your house.
Also See: Decluttering Your Home Before Moving
Address All Repairs
Like we’ve mentioned before, the present condition and presentation of your house will be a major determinant of the price that you get for your house. And to maximize your profits, ideally, you should be taking care of all minor repairs that need fixing. For instance, make sure that you have no leaky faucets, toilet leaks, broken appliances, and squeaky doors.
If you have loose or broken locks, patch holes in the wall, or stained carpets, you might want to get them fixed before putting your house on the market. Though these may all seem like minor issues, they can very well put out a wrong message to the buyers. Try looking at your house from a buyer’s perspective. That will give you a good idea of which things you can take care of to enhance the productivity of your deal.
Read Also: How to Change Locks on a New Home?
Depersonalize And Go Neutral
A potential buyer will only be interested in your house when they can see themselves setting up a home there. Try to depersonalize your home as much as possible to attract the buyer’s attention. Remove all your family photos, personal keepsakes, and memorabilia collections, and keep as much of your house as empty as possible. Keep the inside as well as the outside of your house as neutral as possible so as to not let the differences in personal tastes affect your prospective deal.
Enhance Your Lighting
You might have not thought about this, but a well-lit house is a very good selling point for your house. Try and maximize the light in your house. You might have to keep all the light fixtures and lamps turned on when showing your house to a potential buyer, so make sure to stock up on light bulbs in advance. In addition to this, you can take down the drapes, clean the windows, up the wattage of your light bulbs, and change your lampshades as well. Keeping your house bright and shiny will leave a positive impression on potential buyers.
Apply A Fresh Coat Of Paint On Walls
Colors again, have a personal opinion for each of us. When you’re trying to present your house in a neutral manner, it is best to repaint your colorful walls with neutral colors like white, grey, beige, or the currently trending, ‘greige’. This will not only add a fresh touch to your house but also convey a welcoming vibe to the potential buyer and with it, an attractive deal as well!
Also Read: How To Choose A Color Scheme For Your Home
A Month Before
Go For Deep Cleaning
After you’re done with decluttering and depersonalizing your house, the next step would be to have a thorough clean-up. Inspect each room of your house individually and clean everything right from the carpets to the curtains. Eliminate any unpleasant odors that might bother people and make sure to keep your kitchen spick and span. We suggest calling professionals to help with the deep cleaning of your house as they can help you present your house as good as new. A few weeks or a month before you’re listing your house on the market is ideally a good time to deep clean every corner of your house.
Boost Your Curb Appeal
Like we mentioned before, the exteriors of your house are as important as your interiors as they are going to be the first in-person glimpse of the house for the potential buyer. Make sure to clear all walkways and pathways, clean the doors and windows, and trim the shrubs, hedges, and overgrown tree branches, if required. You can spruce up the landscape with some colorful flowers to make it more visually appealing. You can also consider staging your house if you want to sell your house at the earliest.
Hire A Professional Photographer
In recent times, a number of potential buyers will look for homes online, which means that a virtual picture of your house will be the first step in attracting a potential buyer. While you can take photos on your phone itself and upload them, it makes a difference if you hire a professional photographer to do the job. With the correct lighting, equipment, and technique, a professional photographer will be able to efficiently enhance the virtual presentation of your house and give a boost to your online listing. Make sure to declutter and deep clean your house to get it photo-ready.
Be Ready To Show And Make A Lasting First Impression
Just like first impressions matter when you go on a date, the first impression that your house lays on the buyer is equally important. Once you’ve listed your house on the market, you have to keep it show-ready at all times. From the entryways to all the rooms, you need to keep everything in a tip-top condition so as to appeal to the buyer. Make sure to keep your sink clear, bathrooms cleaned, and beds made. This might seem a little tedious but it definitely helps to sell your house quickly as well as at a competitive rate.
FAQs
How Do I Get My House Ready To Sell In 30 Days?
If you’re running on a tight schedule and have only 30 days to sell your house, focus on decluttering and deep cleaning the house first. By applying a new coat of paint and by fixing all minor repairs, you’ll be able to attract more buyers and have higher chances of cracking a deal. Reach out to a real estate agent and set an attractive listing price to get your house ready to sell within 30 days.
What Sells A House Fast?
The selling strategy that you choose can help you sell your house fast. For instance, if you hire a listing agent instead of selling FSBO (For Sale By Owner), you can expect to sell your house at the earliest. Similarly, setting an attractive listing price, working on the condition and presentation of the house, as well as boosting the creative curb of your house will all help in finding a buyer and finalizing the deal as soon as possible.
How Much Should You Save Before Selling Your House?
To get a good deal on your house, you might have to spend a little on the repairs and presentation of the house. In addition to this, you will also have to pay a real estate agent, if you choose to hire one. You should be taking all these aspects into consideration and be financially prepared before you decide to sell your house. The amount that you may need to save depends on the type and condition of your house and whether you intend on hiring an agent or not.
What Months Do Houses Sell Best?
The months from May to July are considered to be the best time to sell houses in most parts of the US. While it is easier to find a buyer in the initial weeks of May, if you are looking to maximize your profits then July is probably the best month to sell your house. The market is said to be the most active during the spring months.
Also See: Organizing A Garage Sale Before Moving | Top Local Moving in the US
Conclusion
Selling your house can be a little stressful especially if you’re time-bound or are in an urgent need to do so. By simply following a few of these tactics that we’ve mentioned above, you can not only increase the market value of your house but also crack a deal at the earliest. If you’re planning to move as well and need some help in budgeting your move, you can also check out our article on How To Finance Your Move and figure out the details.
