Give Yourself Plenty of Time
You can never start too soon in prepping your home for sale. After all, it’s a lot of work. Whether you tackle it one room at a time or all at once, you may need a few weeks or a month to get your home ready.
Have your home pre-inspected, to identify any needed repairs.
Bring in a certified home inspector, just as if you were buying the home. Your listing agent can help you do this, if you’re working with one.
The inspector’s report will provide an exhaustive look at absolutely everything. If there’s a questionable piece of siding, a bit of rust in a bathroom sink or an electrical outlet that doesn’t work – your report will list it.
Correct or concede items on the report.
Let’s say your inspection report identifies $2,000 in needed exterior and interior repairs. In the larger scheme of things, that’s not too much. You should make those repairs – or be prepared to make concessions off your sale price.
Ignoring the repairs will not be an option. The buyer will almost certainly arrange for a home inspection, too, and the same items will most likely be noted.
Avoid major renovations and improvements.
While you may need to make some repairs to prep your home for sale, you should try to avoid making any major renovations. Don’t update your kitchen or bathrooms just to sell your home. The investment rarely pays off.
Create some curb appeal.
Consider a fresh coat of paint for the exterior, and keep the yard mowed and trimmed. Get a positive vibe going by cleaning out and organizing your garage. Brighten your entranceway with flowers or a new light fixture.
Make visitors feel at home.
Clean everything and clean thoroughly – especially the kitchen and bathrooms. Clean out closets and any built-ins. Remove and store unneeded furniture, to create a sense of space. And paint wherever needed, especially high traffic areas.
Home Buyer's Guide to Trading Up
Daunia is an Assistant Vice President of Mortgage Loans at the Hastings branch of Heartland Bank. She is a lifelong resident of Hastings with 16 years of banking experience. She enjoys serving the neighbors in her community.
