7 Steps to do before you list your house for sale

About 3 months before you list your home for sale you should take a hard look at your home. If you have a hard time being objective then get that too honest type of friend.  Or contact your local real estate agent. Go in each room with a pad and pen.  Make note of what you can change that annoys you or distracts you.

(1)

Is there a door that doesn’t close correctly? A light covering that is banged up or missing.  How about a cabinet door that has a broken hinge? Look at the flooring do the floor shine or are they looking dull and beat up. Are the carpets going up the stairs or in the bedroom looking kind of gross? Look into getting them cleaned or replaced.

(2)

Once you have made your list of repairs you need to make in each room of your home. What stuff in the room can you get rid of that you don’t need for the time being. What items can you get rid of for good? Figure out what you will toss, and what you will donate. The last group of items should be put in storage or stored in the home during the sale.

(3)

After you have figured out what you getting rid of and what you storing. Ask yourself how does each room looks?  Does it have a put-together fresh look? Or does it look tired? How do the bed linens look? How do the towels in the bathroom look? Do the towels match the colors in the bathroom? Once you have addressed the clutter and made sure every room has a put-together look then turn to your lighting.

(4)

I am not saying you have to change the lighting fixtures. The fix could be as simple as updating the light bulbs themselves and it changes the whole look and feel of the home. If you have a room that needs an updated light fixture then do it. At the same time look at the walls do the walls look tired? a fresh coat of paint or an updated paint color might be a good idea.

So you have a walk thru your home figured out what bothers you about the home that you can change, made repairs, updated the look and feel of your home by swapping out bedroom liens, and putting on a fresh coat of paint, decluttered it what else is there to do?

5)

(3 Weeks before it goes on the market)
You should do a deep clean, move furniture, and clean behind the furniture. Clean corners you rarely touch. Clean inside cabinets, behind doors, dust surfaces especially fans and lighting. Next, you should do a deep cleaning in your home. Look at your home again and ask yourself is your home too personalize? You want your home to feel personal, but personal effects should be limited.  A home needs to feel warm but it shouldn’t feel territorial when a buyer walks through it.

6)

Last few things. Do you own a pet? What is the game plan when there is a showing where is the dog going to be? How does the house smell? Remember when I said if you have that really honest friend well that honest friend you can ask them.  If your home smells like pets get those soft surfaces cleaned.  make sure the litter box is cleaned regularly. If you own a dog have a plan what you will do with the dog during a showing.  The only hints that you own a pet should be a dog or cat bowl, and the kitty litter should be clean and in an area that is not high traffic.

7)

Curb Appeal is what the outside of the house looks like. Does the home need a good power wash? maybe a fresh coat of paint on those shutters or the house itself? The front door should like crisp and fresh. The hardware on the doors should shine or look well taken care of. There should be signs of life before you walk inside the home and plants signal life. Make sure plants are healthy, and well taken care of.  When you drive up to your home ask yourself this question. What are the first things you see and make sure the curb appeal offers the best first impression. 

Once you have done steps 1-7 contact your local real estate agent, and tell them your home is ready to list. If your agent has any last-minute suggestions do as many as you can or be open to them. Your agent might suggest a staging company. They might suggest removing additional items. It is nothing personal towards your personal style and taste. Your agent just wants your home to appeal to the widest group of buyers.   You want the home to feel welcoming and connect with the buyers who walk thru your front door. The more buyers who form a connection to the home the higher chance you will be reviewing the best offer and all that hard work will have paid off. Think about selling your home in Massachusetts or New Hampshire lets set up a time to talk.