Essential Prep before Listing Your Home for Sale

Regardless of whether you want to sell your home in the Berkshires or need to sell your current home before moving here, it’s important to be proactive in terms of preparing your home for the open market. Fortunately, there are a number of easy fixes that can help you get the highest possible sale price.

 

After all, there is only one chance to make a positive first impression. Applying a little time and effort up front can go a long way toward minimizing the hassles associated with selling a home. With that in mind, the following includes a list of simple, easy ways to ensure your home appeals to potential buyers of real estate in the Berkshires.

 

Though some argue a cluttered house is an indicator of a creative, intelligent mind, others argue that clutter indicates depression and disorder. Some even say more clutter in a home can result in increased levels of stress, anxiety, cortisol and, not surprisingly, filth.

 

There is little dispute that clutter is a turn off for real estate buyers, however. Taking the time to declutter your home can drastically improve its aesthetic appeal when selling your home in the Berkshires.

 

A good agent, friend or interior designer may advise you to look at your bookshelves, mantle, end tables, etc. and apply the ‘rule of threes.’ This means there should not be over three items on any surface.

 

It’s generally a good idea to take it a step further and remove everything that isn’t essential, whether placing it in the garbage or in storage. Doing so can help your home feel more spacious and simplify the moving process after the sale.

 

 

Depersonalizing the space should be a component of the decluttering process. Buyers need to be able to visualize their new life inside your home. If the walls and surfaces are filled with family photos, children’s artwork and/or toys, it will be difficult for potential buyers to see beyond the clutter.

 

It’s also important to note that your home could be visited by large numbers of people and many of them may not be as ethical as they should be. Thus, removing personal items can help to ensure their safety, along with enhancing the marketability of your home.

 

Whether you’ve been in your home for two years or 20 years, chances are strong it could benefit from a deep clean. Similar to decluttering and depersonalizing, if you have the time and the inclination, doing it yourself is an easy way to save money.

 

Dirty baseboards, grout lines, window blinds and ceiling fans can be a huge red flag for some potential buyers. They may wonder how bad other things are if the seller didn’t take the time to address those issues prior to the sale.

 

A trusty ‘Shop Vac’ could be your best friend when preparing your home for sale. These powerful vacuums can quickly and (somewhat) easily get rid of dust and grime along baseboards, on air return exchanges, window blinds and ceiling fan blades.

 

Some elbow grease, window cleaner and bleach will go a long way and, even if you opt to hire a pro that deep cleans for a living, applying a little time and effort beforehand can be an effective way to reduce the costs involved.

 

 

Maybe you had a blue period like Picasso or an old friend/wannabe interior designer who encouraged you to paint the bathroom purple. Though it may sound obvious, what appeals to you might not appeal to potential buyers.

 

Ensuring that your home has a broad appeal can help to maximize the sale price, and repainting is one of the easiest, cheapest ways to achieve that goal. Even small items such as repainting the shutters or one interior room with a ‘problem’ color can go a long way. Whether you decide to do it yourself or hire a pro, it’s vital to use neutral tones when prepping your home for sale.

 

Landscaping can have a significant impact on your home’s curb appeal. A few items to consider include removing dead tree limbs, pulling weeds, mowing and raking leaves. Edging the driveway and all of the walkways, cleaning the gutters and removing tree stumps can also improve your home’s chances of making a good impression.

 

There are many other proactive steps you can take to enhance the curb appeal of your home, such as having it pressure washed or simply planting some flowers.

 

Prudent home sellers eyeing a solid return and a positive, hassle-free transaction experience should consider finding and troubleshooting any issues prior to the sale. Unless the buyer is paying cash, a lender will have to be involved and if so, there will need to be a home inspection.

 

Fixing any issues a home inspection may find can make the negotiations on necessary repairs much easier. It’s also worth pointing out that, because of lender restrictions, some buyers may not be able to purchase your home if some key items are in disrepair.

 

An easy way to simplify the process and be proactive is to start interviewing prospective listing agents three to six months before selling. A qualified agent such as one of the professionals at Stone House Properties can help you identify problems in need of repair and figure out if a pre-inspection may be in your interest prior to listing.

 

Why not leverage the opinion of a professional who works in real estate every day? An experienced agent can help with all of the items on this list and will likely have a list of trusted contacts to use for deep cleaning, painting, landscaping and pressure washing.

 

Also, many of our agents are familiar with home staging concepts, which have been proven to generate a higher sales price in a shorter amount of time.

 

To connect with one of our agents and learn more about how to prepare your home for sale on the open market, click here today.