The home selling process differs from country to country, but there are some same (all over the world) and important steps that most home sellers should follow before listing a house for sale.
We know that selling your home can be very exciting, but it also requires a lot of effort. You’ll need to fix all those little problems you’ve let go for so many years. You need to decide if you’re going to try to sell your home on your own or hire a professional real estate broker. And you’ll need to be patient! Selling your home can take some time, depending on your local real estate market.
Let's go through what you can do in order to sell you home fast and in a good price:
• Stand back and look at your house as objectively as possible. Would you buy this house? Overlooking flaws could cost you money! Get them fixed before you put the house on the market.
• Then, determine how much your house is worth. Along with location and condition, the pricing of a house is a major component of why a house will or will not sell quickly. Real estate agents will usually help you determine value as a courtesy. You will need to sign a contract with the estate agent who will list your property.
• Get the house ready for viewing and make all the necessary repairs. If you need major improvements or renovations to your house, do them before you put it on the market.
First of all a well-manicured lawn, neatly trimmed shrubs and a clutter-free porch welcome prospects. So does a freshly painted - or at least freshly scrubbed - front door. Remove any junk or clutter from the yard. The fewer obstacles between prospects and the true appeal of your home, the better. If the exterior of the house is dirty or moldy, power-wash it. If it is in need of paint, get a good offer from a professional if you can't do it yourself. Also make sure that the exterior and the interior of windows is clean and operational and that all exterior lights are working perfectly.
When it comes to preparing a house, painting gives you the best return for money spent. Which rooms should you paint? Any room that have dirty or marked walls or any rooms that are currently painted in dark colors. Keeping the walls neutral off white or antique white is the best choice. Even though you may consider your house clean and tidy, a thorough cleaning including dusting, washing, and waxing everything will always make a house more appealing. Tidy the living room (if possible, keep furniture at a bare minimum so that traffic flow is easier and the room does not appear smaller than it actually is), the bathroom (thoroughly clean sinks and tubs), the kitchen (clean cabinet faces), the garage (remove all junk and oil marks). Adding new slipcovers to sofas and keeping a vase of fresh flowers in the entryway are some final touches that can help a lot.
A useful tip:
Bathrooms and bedrooms sell homes, so let them shine. In the bathrooms, check and repair damaged or unsightly caulking in the tubs and showers. For added allure, display your best towels, mats and shower curtains. In your bedroom, for a spacious look, get rid of excess furniture. Colorful cushions and fresh curtains are a must.
You should always remember that potential buyers are looking for more than just comfortable living space. They're looking for storage space, too. Make sure your attic and basement are clean and free of unnecessary items. Also keep in mind that the better organized a closet, the larger it looks.
When you are ready to show your house to prospect buyers, keep these tips in mind:
- Open every window covering. Buyers like a house to be "light and bright". Turn on as many lights as possible.
- Make sure the house smells good.
- Make sure that everything is spotless.
- Make sure that the temperature of the house is cool.
Good luck!
Spitogatos team
