5 Smart Things to Do Before Putting Your Home on the Market
- Have a pre-sale home inspection. A home inspector will be able to give you a good indication of trouble areas that may stand out to a potential buyer. Having a pre-home inspection before you put your home on the real estate market can help you anticipate problems in advanced. When your home is for sale and a buyer makes an offer to purchase your home, the buyers usually will have a home inspection as a contingency to purchase your home. By making repairs and putting your home in the best shape will help you eliminate any surprise repairs that could make or break a buyer’s decision to buy your home.
- Organize and clean. You want buyers to be able to picture themselves living in your home. So, pare down on what a buyer may consider clutter. Pack up your least-used items, such as large blenders and other lesser used kitchen tools. Store out-of-season clothes, toys, and exercise equipment by storing these items off-site or in boxes neatly arranged in the garage or basement. Clean your windows inside and out, have carpets cleaned. Another area often overlooked are cleaning fingerprints on walls, light fixtures, and don’t forget baseboards to really make your house shine!
- Get replacement estimates. Do you have any big-ticket items that are worn out or will need to be replaced soon, such as your roof or carpeting? Get some estimates on how much it would cost to replace them, even if you don’t plan to do it yourself. These figures will come in handy when a buyer makes an offer on your home and these are items that can be negotiated when you put your home up for sale!
- Find your warranties. Gather up appliance warranties, guarantees, and or user manuals for your furnace, washer and dryer, dishwasher, stove and refrigerator or any other items that will remain with the house.
- Spruce up your curb appeal! Pretend you’re a buyer and stand outside and take a good look your home. As you approach the front door, what is your impression of your property? Do the lawn and bushes look neatly manicured? Are pretty flowers or plants framing your entrance? Is the walkway free from weeds or any obstructions? Is your address clearly visible? Remember your front yard is the first thing a potential buyer sees, make a great first impression!