Thinking of selling your home soon? Prepare a home selling plan before you start making repairs or planning that open house! Follow these simple steps to sell your home in less time and with less stress.
Find the Right Realtor
Interview a few Realtors and ask them to present comprehensive plans to sell your home, with a detailed timeline. As with any major financial decision, it is best to seek out the opinion of different entities before choosing the best one for you. You’ll also want to ask for neighborhood comparisons to gain a baseline expectation of your home’s value.
Prepare the Property
Start by removing any large or bulky items. Anything old and worn out should also go. Clean out those pesky closets, under bed storage areas and even the attic, if there is one. If you’re one to keep EVERYTHING, now is a good time to start the decluttering process. Potential buyers want to see the space the house has to offer. If your house is bursting with knick knacks, overflowing closets, and too much furniture, the space may seem deceivingly small. Remember, they are paying a price per square foot, so you’ll need to showcase all the house has to offer!
To simplify the process even further, approach the decluttering one room at a time. Another pro-tip is to sort items into three piles: a keep pile, a donate pile, and a discard pile. If you haven’t used it in two years, you probably already know where it should go.
To Repair Or Not to Repair
When deciding whether to make certain repairs, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, not all resale repairs will pay off. Secondly, it’s best to keep the repairs that are made as neutral as possible to appeal to a wider range of potential buyers. While it is generally good practice to keep repair costs to a minimum, do repair obvious maintenance issues. A good practice is to ask for professional advice before committing to anything…and a good Realtor will be able to provide just that.
Take Center Stage
What is staging? Home staging is not the same as decorating. Decorating is about personal style, while staging makes your home appealing to the largest pool of buyers possible. Staging encourages buyers to imagine themselves in the home, highlights features of the home, and camouflages flaws. Staging sets a mood and allows the home to shine in those oh-so-important listing photos, too.
Some simple staging tricks include: hanging large mirrors to make a small room look bigger; repainting walls with neutral tones to set a sophisticated vibe; and accenting with more colorful rugs and throws. Let’s not forget the outside though! Add a few potted plants and fresh mulch to really spice up the curb appeal.
Following these easy steps–and starting your plan early–will help you sell your home while mitigating unnecessary stressors along the way. Happy selling!
Staci & Hal Gahm serve the real estate needs of neighbors in the Boerne, San Antonio, and surrounding Hill Country communities. Their Texas Hill Country roots run deep, as this has been their home for over 30-years. The Gahms settled in Boerne for its friendly people, honest values, and small-town charm. When not tending to your real estate needs, the Gahms enjoy the great Hill Country outdoors with their daughters, Halli and Brooke, and their King Charles Spaniel, Dixie.
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