Preparing Your Home To Sell

You’ve finally made the decision to sell your home, and you’ve connected with a Realty Executives agent you can trust and communicate with effectively. At this point, there are a number of steps you need to take to attract a buyer. First of all, your agent will draw up a listing agreement that allows them to list your home for potential buyers. Your listing must convey any and all relevant information about your home, including extensive details like the home’s age and the size and number of rooms. Once your agent has collected this information, your home will be listed according to the terms of your agreement. Primarily, your listing will be featured on real estate websites such as the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), and traditional newspaper advertisements may be an additional option. Of course, the Realty Executives “For Sale” sign outside your home is also bound to attract some attention.

Showcasing Your Home

The most important step in this process is ensuring that your home lives up to the hype of its advertising. Your agent can draft a compelling listing, but it won’t matter if a prospective buyer walks in and sees a house that doesn’t match the description. From top to bottom, conduct a complete critical assessment of your home. Go room by room and take note of any issues lurking beneath the surface. If there are any minor repairs that need to be made, taking care of them yourself ahead of time will aid in negotiations with buyers. Major problems, like poor plumbing or leaky basements, must be reported to your Realty Executives agent immediately.

Bathroom

The bathroom and the kitchen are the most important rooms in the house. These two areas can make or break your chances of success when you are preparing your home to sell, so both require extra attention. In the bathroom, eliminate any trace of mold or mildew by scrubbing tiles, using caulk where needed, and replacing old, well-used shower curtains with bright, clean new ones. Faulty faucets should be fixed, clogged drains should be unplugged, and damaged toilet seats should be replaced. Speaking of toilets, always make certain that they flush correctly without any issues. From mirrors, counters, and showers to floors, sinks, and faucets, make the best impression possible by leaving everything in your bathroom shiny and spotless.

Kitchen

Prospective buyers often imagine themselves in their potential new kitchens. You can help to stimulate their imaginations by presenting the immaculate kitchen of their dreams. Start by testing all appliances to ensure they work properly, and continue with a comprehensive cleaning of your stove, oven, and refrigerator. Wash the floor until it sparkles, and tidy up your cupboards so that they are neatly organized. As you did in the bathroom, clean anything and everything that can be cleaned. When you’re scouring the sink, make sure the drain isn’t clogged, the faucet isn’t leaky, and dirty dishes are never left out. If your kitchen needs to be freshened up, consider wiping down walls, touching up paint, or re-affixing wallpaper to give it a more vivid look. One last thing to remember: always take the garbage out!

Basement

Another area of intrigue is the basement. While finished basements can be cleaned in the same way as the other rooms, an unfinished basement represents a blank slate that you can use to highlight the potential and versatility that your home offers to a prospective buyer. Storage areas should be organized and arranged in an orderly fashion. If your basement has laundry room facilities, clean the floors, sinks, and machines thoroughly and don’t leave your laundry laying around. Spruce up the space with a new rug to make the room seem warmer.

Stairs and Floors

Closely examine all floors and stairs in your home for warning signs of trouble that may arise. Loose steps and banisters can pose a safety hazard to your family and potential buyers. If you discover any tiles or floorboards that can be repaired or replaced separately, visit your local hardware or home improvement store. An affordable do-it-yourself solution is a practical investment when preparing to sell your home.

Interior and Exterior

To make your home look as big and beautiful as possible, keep it clean and well-organized at all times. Don’t just hide the clutter, either. Buyers will be looking everywhere – from closets and drawers to cabinets and cupboards – and clutter makes these spaces appear small and cramped. Outside the house, harsh climates can take a toll on exteriors like doors and windows. If surfaces appear weathered or faded due to exposure, apply a new coat of paint to restore their former glory.

Realty Executives: What We Do

At Realty Executives, our agents have their fingers on the pulse of the market and will offer you an honest, unbiased appraisal of your home before any photographs are taken. Based on our knowledge of current trends and designs that interest buyers, we provide fair comparisons between your home and competing properties on the market. Realty Executives agents are experienced with handling offers and negotiations with prospective buyers and will help you prepare for this. When it comes to arranging showings, there are different options to suit your preferences. Individual potential buyers and their agents can get in touch with us to book viewings at times that are convenient for you, or you can choose for your agent to hold an open house. In a single day, we can showcase your home to the largest number of prospective buyers in the shortest amount of time. In either case, you always have the ability to reschedule these appointments if necessary.