5 Tips to Get You in The Sell-My-Home Mindset

The first step in selling your house is obtaining an independent, unbiased home valuation. Provided by a licensed real estate agent, it’s provides you with an idea of what your home is worth given current market conditions. This is also your opportunity to find the right realtor to sell your home on your behalf.

The second step is to get yourself in the sell your home mindset, particularly if you’ve bene living in your home for a long time. And there are several things you can do in your house before you ask for the valution.

You’ll not only learn more about the current condition of your home but will be able to answer your realtor’s questions.

Locate The Important Papers

The operating manuals for your appliances and HVAC system, notes about the paint colors you used on your walls and any applicable warranties are relevant for any a new buyer. At the same time, having utility and annual maintenance bills will demonstrate to your agent and the buyer that you mean business and provide a level of transparency.

Get serviced. Get Estimates

Take the time to get things serviced from appliances, to alarm and HVAC systems. You’ll have a better understanding on potential life expectancy and get a cost and time estimate on a replacement if necessary. You may not be prepared to overhaul worn-out items now, but knowing how much it will cost could give your real estate agent an edge in negotiations. A bidder may ask for $10,000 off the asking price for a necessary repair. But your research may show that update would only cost half.

Repair & Replace

No time like the present to tackle the repair to-do list. And small updates such as replacing old kitchen hardware or bathroom and kitchen fixtures can make a real difference. Replacing a 10-year old garage door is a relatively inexpensive update that is safer and easier to use.

Don’t plan any major updates before the home valuation when you will get a second opinion you’re your real estate agent. Not all renovations are equal and will make a difference in the asking price.

Update Your Curb Appeal

The entrance way to a home says a lot about the people who live there and can make a difference to a buyer. If you’ve been planning on painting the door and the trim, repairing the fence, or fixing the cracks in the driveway this is the time. Power-washing the exterior siding and windows is a minimum investment and will give your home a huge lift.

DeClutter | Deep Clean

Eventually this will have to done before you sell your home so it doesn’t hurt to get a jump on it early. Establishing some guidelines on what is kept and what gets chucked will limit the number of decisions you have to make.
A few other tips:

• Inquire with local charities as to their donations regulations. Some will pick up your junk. There are also consignment stores that can sell some of the big items on your behalf. And rent a bin – saves endless trips to the junkyard.
• Get the family involved, have them purge their own stuff. And if becomes absolutely overwhelming, hire a professional organizer to get you through the worst of it.
• When we say deep clean – we’re talking DEEP. It’s time to look at the items that get ignored like the blinds, underneath the stove, vacuum your fridge’s condenser coils and more. Save your energy for the important de-cluttering tasks by hiring a professional cleaning company.

Before you start and take some photos. If you do sell you’ll think back to the old house, with its clutter and wish you’d kept a few pictures to remind you of what those wonderful early years were all about.

It’s happened before, after meeting with your agent and having a home valuation completed, you may decide that your old house is where you really want to be. And that’s just fine.

You’ll be able to enjoy the improvements you’ve made, have a better understanding of how much your home is worth and have established a relationship with a realtor that you can use when you are ready to sell your home.

Our team of real estate sales professionals is committed to finding you, your dream home. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell, the Karen Paul team is here to help with any questions.