You’ve spent years in your home creating memories and building a life for you and your family, but now you’re considering putting it on the market and passing along your humble abode to another family to create lasting memories in. If you’ve never sold a home before, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. However, if you follow a few simple tips, you could be on the fast track to selling your home in no time.
Know its Value
The first step in selling your home is knowing its value. You can find out what it’s worth by having it appraised by a professional so you don’t undersell yourself. That way, when someone approaches you about your asking prices, you’ll know how to respond. A good appraiser should look at the overall market and compare your home with other similar homes nearby to gauge what yours is worth.
Make Repairs
Taking the time to make routine repairs around your home can raise its overall value and prevent sellers from using them as leverage against you in the bidding process. You should plan to get a roof checkup before selling, along with other repairs such as sealing cracks in your driveway, fixing or replacing windows, and giving your walls a fresh coat of paint to breathe new life into your rooms.
De-Personalize
Before you begin the process of showing your home, you should consider removing personal touches such as family photos or other mementos. The less personal your home appears, the more other people can envision themselves living in it when they walk through your home. Temporarily keep your personal items in storage while you’re in the process of showing your home and put out simple, modern decor instead so it doesn’t seem empty to viewers.
Be Modest with Upgrades
It may be tempting to make major upgrades to your home before you try to sell it in order to make more money, but it could end up being a mistake. A large project may not make your money back, particularly if your upgrades are highly customized to your personal tastes. Instead, make small, easy upgrades such as replacing cabinet hardware, fixing leaks, and outfitting your home with new curtains to give it a bit of a lift without making a dent in your wallet.
Get Curb Appeal
Before a potential homebuyer even sets foot in your home, their first impression will be your home’s exterior. Since first impressions are so crucial in the home buying process, make sure you put your best foot forward with some attractive aesthetics. Add some inexpensive shrubs around your home, make sure walkways are clean and free of debris, have your windows washed, and give your front door a nice fresh coat of paint so it draws the eye in. These little improvements can make a big difference to someone looking at your home for the first time.
Be Show-Ready
Your home should be ready to show at a moment’s notice, which means that you should work to keep your home neat and tidy at all times. If you have a tendency to leave dishes lying around, make it a habit to keep them in the dishwasher. If you have pets, keep their food dishes out of the way, litter boxes scooped and clean, and animal hair swept up. You may even want to hire a professional cleaner to visit your home before someone looks at it.
Be Patient
One of the most important things to remember when selling your home is to be patient throughout the process. If your home doesn’t sell right away, don’t get discouraged. Chances are with some patience and a little diligence, you’ll be able to sell your home in no time.
Don’t let the process of selling your hours cause you unnecessary stress. With these tips in mind, selling your home can be a pleasant experience.
