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How to Get a House Ready to Sell

When it’s time to sell your house, there are many things to consider. Should I keep it the way it is? Should I have it staged? Do I need to clear out everything but the bare minimum? It can get overwhelming quickly, and you just end up doing nothing because you are frozen with stress.

Fortunately, there is a solution to prepare a house for sale. In fact, there are several ways to help your preparation. Here is how to get your house ready to sell:

1. Find a great real estate agent

Once you have decided to sell, you need a listing agent. There are so many to choose from, but if you have a bad real estate agent, you won’t get the best price, and the whole process can be terrible.

Have several agents pitch to you. You want to find one that understands your market and your needs, and they should be available when you call them. You will know the perfect agent when you meet them. They will know how to properly market your home, get you exactly what you want, and more.

Take your time, and don’t settle because your perfect real estate agent is out there.

2. Fix minor repairs in the house

No house is in perfect condition, but you don’t want to have unfinished or broken things left for the next owner. This is a sure way to turn off potential buyers, so look around and make any minor repairs.

This includes:

  • Doing any paint touchups
  • Changing out bulbs or lighting
  • Cleaning fixtures
  • Repairing water leaks
  • Removing scuffs, marks and stains
  • Mowing the lawn
  • Repairing fencing
  • Cleaning the gutters

Most of this stuff won’t take too much money or time but will dramatically affect the look of your home.

3. Max out your space

You only have so much square footage, and there’s no time to add to it, so it’s best to make the most of what you have. That means making it look larger by decluttering it. People are looking for space and want to know you have lots of it. This starts with removing unnecessary items like extra furniture clogs up the rooms.

Remove all your knick-knacks from the shelves because they are only special and personal to you, and you need to pack them anyway. You can pack up lots of stuff and neatly store it in your garage because you are moving after all, and it won’t look out of place.

You could also rent a monthly storage unit to get extra items out of the house and leave behind an open home for your buyers to get excited about.

4. Rid the home of smells

Do you ever notice that people’s homes smell? Guess what? So does yours. We all get used to our odours, and while it may not seem like a big deal, it could be a deal breaker for a potential buyer.

Wash or replace pet beds and clean out the litter box and hide it away during showings. Take your dog with you when an agent is bringing over clients, and run hot water in the sinks, using vinegar and baking soda to clear out any clogs that could cause odours.

Finally, open the doors to air things out for an hour and then use an air freshener to fill the place with a nice aroma.

5. Get a home inspection

This may seem like an unnecessary expenditure, but it is important to know where your home stands, for better or worse. You will be well informed as to the condition of the property, and while you may find out things you didn’t want to know, you will also discover parts of the home that are in great condition.

Then, you can let your realtor know, which will help sell the home. When buyers know that the roof is in great condition and there is no mould or leaks, they will be more interested in purchasing your place.

6. Make cheap updates that help sell the home

If you are looking to get top dollar for your home, you want it to look amazing. Part of the solution is to make strategic updates that buyers will notice. This includes:

  • Cabinet pulls
  • Fixtures (faucets and lighting)
  • Carpet (replaces or cleaned)
  • Paint

Kitchens are places that sell homes, so consider upgrading any appliances or countertops if you can double the cost of that expense into the purchase price.

7. List your home at the right price

This is a crucial step to getting your house ready to sell. Too high, and you will get no interest, and too low, and you leave money on the table. Have a meeting with your realtor about the price. They will bring detailed information about the area’s comps and the market’s current demand. With the price in the sweet spot, you may get multiple bids and drive the price higher than asking.

Selling your home in a hot market should be easy, but anything you can do to get it ready to sell will only increase your offers. Follow these tips and make the most of marketing your home. Then you can relax and enjoy the fruits of your labour in your new place.

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