4 Things You Should Be Doing if You Want to List
If you’ve been planning on selling your home, now is a great time to do some DIY projects to prepare the property for the market and the right buyers.
If you are preparing your home for sale here are 4 things you should be doing if you want to list in the near future.
#1. Clean and de-cluttering.
This is by far the first thing that all real estate articles will tell you to do. Obviously you need to clean your house but you don’t want to neglect certain places such as window and door tracks, blinds, ceiling fans, bathroom fans and baseboards. These places get forgotten about a lot so you’ll want to clean everything with a fine-tooth comb, probably better than you’ve ever cleaned before.
Then de-clutter everything. You’re going to have to pack up the house anyway so start now and go room by room packing up all nonessential items, collections, personal memorabilia, personal photographs, and excess books and knickknacks. You can put two or three things back per shelf but it needs to be non-personal and clutter-free.
#2. Fix all of those little things you’ve become blind to over the years.
Go through your house making a checklist of items that will need to be corrected. This could be squeaky doors, leaky faucets, holes in doors or walls, broken screens or screens with holes in them, missing screens, broken blinds, ripped drapes, touch-ups on walls and doors, and new baseboards or re-secure the baseboard if necessary. Your tub and toilet might need re-caulking as well as around window panes to prevent any drafts. The furnace and fireplaces should be serviced with new filters and windows should be replaced if they have lost their seal. If you are unsure what needs to happen in your home because you’ve gotten so use to it, have a friend or trusted family member come through and help you make the list. You can also ask your real estate agent about things that stand out to them that might be an eyesore for potential buyers.
#3. Check out the competition.
Do a search for homes similar to your size and location. See what people are listing at and also look at sold properties so you know what is sold in the last 6 to 8 months that is similar to your property. This will help devise a price range to start in but your real estate agent will also offer expert advice from years of experience. I know the Snohomish County area and I can help you price your home correctly from the beginning so we get the right buyers and the right offer.
Related: 4 Reasons to Put Carpet Cleaning on your Pre-Sale Checklist
#4. Start marketing it now.
If you are absolutely sure you’re going to sell or at least list your property, start now by locking down a real estate agent and talk about selling online. You could talk about your property as an upcoming listing and if any of your friends know someone is going to be moving within the next 3 to 6 months. You can get a jump on your marketing now so that by the time it hits the market, you already have buyers lined up.
Contact my office today for information on selling your Snohomish County home, what your home could sell for, and tips on listing and pricing your property to sell.
