Preparing to sell?

We are planning to list our house a year from now. What should I do to prepare? My house needs some minor cosmetic work, but all the big-ticket items are in good working order. We bought in 2008 and I know I won't get what I paid, but what are some tips for selling as quickly as possible for the highest (reasonable) price?

Re: Preparing to sell?

Staging the house. Clear out as much unnecessary stuff as possible, if you have somewhere to store it (parents, inlaws) do that--people like to see open, clean spaces and it helps a lot!!

Obviously any small cosmetic changes do as well!

good luck!

Message edited 4/23/2014 10:01:17 AM.

Re: Preparing to sell?

It's hard to say, without specifically seeing the house, but the best tips for selling quickly are:

First and foremost - price it right for the market, based on recent sales in your area! A real estate agent can advise you on what a realistic price is, but when houses don't sell, 9 times out of 10, there's a price issue. And in this active market, if a house is priced right, it should be getting offers almost immediately. If there are no offers after a few weeks on the market (I usually give it 30 days), the seller should be considering a price adjustment.

Of course, marketing (especially online marketing) and access (making sure the house is available to be shown when agents/buyers want to see it) are also key.

As far as what to do to the house itself - I always say (i) clean, (ii) declutter, (iii) neutralize/depersonalize, and (iv) repair. No need to invest in expensive upgrades and renovations... you won't get your money back, and you never know what a buyer's tastes are or what they want to do to a house. Doing some sweat equity projects (planting flowers outside for color, freshly painting areas of the house that are dingy) are always a good idea, but you don't want to start renovating rooms when you get ready to sell.

But having it be very clean (and smell clean) is important. A dirty house definitely turns off buyers.

Decluttering is key -- A lot of clutter makes it hard to appreciate the features of a home... buyers want to be able to envision themselves living in the home and it's hard to do that if it's filled to the brim with STUFF. Also, if you have stuff piled on countertops and your closets are jammed pack with items, it will give the impression of inadequate storage. So organize and clear out all of your storage areas, and it is a good idea to start packing things and putting them in storage or at a family member's house if you truly don't have enough space to put away what you have. You want clear counters in bathrooms and kitchens (one or two appliances on the counter, max).

Depersonalizing is also important. It doesn't have to look like a museum or a hotel room. Some family photos are ok. But if you have a LOT of family photos covering every surface, you may want to take some down. Or if you have a lot of photos, cards, etc. on your fridge, I recommend clearing it off. It looks neater, and you don't want people to be distracted by cute birth announcements on your fridge instead of looking at the kitchen, lol! Also, taste specific art, a lot of religious artifacts, etc. are all things that you may want to consider toning down. You want to appeal to the broadest range of buyers. I recently had a seller who was using a small bedroom as a big walk in closet. I had her convert the room back to a bedroom (put a bed and a nightstand in), because most buyers will want to use it as such, and it can be hard for buyers to envision how a room can be used if it's set up in a very custom way for the current homeowner.

Also, if there are minor things to be fixed (e.g., loose handrails, missing outlet plates, etc.), fix them! If you want top dollar, the home must be in the best showing condition possible and appear very well maintained. Having little maintenance issues that need attention may give the buyer the impression that the bigger items in the home may be neglected, too.

The other thing you want to do now is gather key paperwork... your deed, survey, mortgage docs, C/Os. If you are missing C/Os, you want to know that upfront so you can decide -- perhaps in consultation with a realtor -- how to handle it. Depending on what the C/O issue is, sometimes you can sell as is, or just remove the "illegal" item, but sometimes you really do need to get the C/O, and the sooner you start that process, the better. If you live in a flood zone, you will want to get an elevation certificate.

Also, if your taxes are high and you haven't grieved them, you should. It always helps to say there is a tax grievance filed if the taxes may be a turnoff to potential buyers.

Let me know if I can help you - I'd be happy to consult with you in more detail about prepping your home for sale and answer any questions you may have! (516) 587-7618 or [email protected].

Preparing to sell?

- Neutralize any strong colors on walls or curtains. They can turn people off.
- Make sure your carpets are clean.
- Put excess items in storage when it comes near time to show the house.
- Don't have closets packed with junk or clothing. It's better to have space in them when they are opened.
- Clean out the garage and basement, have them neat
- Work on curb appeal, tidy shrubs, edge beds, mulch beds, trim any low hanging limbs

Re: Preparing to sell?

Posted by DiamondGirl

Staging the house. Clear out as much unnecessary stuff as possible, if you have somewhere to store it (parents, inlaws) do that--people like to see open, clean spaces and it helps a lot!!

Obviously any small cosmetic changes do as well!

good luck!

Preparing to sell?

I agree with mostly what others are saying-

Declutter!!!
Make sure the house is clean
Cosmetic improvements are fine but I wouldn't go crazy or start replacing bathrooms or things like that, etc.
Be flexible with showings. We have one Sunday morning (early) and it's the only time the potential buyer could come to look. It's good to be as flexible as you can.

It's a good market right now. We have showings frequently!

Good luck!

Preparing to sell?

We are doing this now..

Make sure it has curb appeal so that people want to stop and come in.

De-clutter and make sure you get rid of as much unnecessary stuff as possible.

Make sure it feels like a home.

My friend is a real estate broker so she came and told us what to do and what not to do (If you know someone I def recommend doing this). It was very helpful. GL!!

Re: Preparing to sell?

We are in the process of decluttering and cleaning. I will repaint some trim and my front door and anything else that needs a fresh coat of paint. We are going to powerwash the exterior(I want to do this any for DD who likes to touch everything when she plays outside). Also any extra furniture will go into storage until we move.

Re: Preparing to sell?

Stage the house!
Decluttering as many other posters say will make the rooms look bigger...
small cosmetic fixes can make a huge impact, and you don't have to pour money into it, repaint moldings to make them look fresh and clean. Get any odors out, and at the same time don't over "perfume" the home bc as good as a smell may seem to you may be a turn off to many buyers. Make the house seem liveable and friendly and not like a museum, so people can envision themselves and their families living there. Warm and welcoming, large and clean....Good luck!