As soon as you determine you may be selling your home, the preparation should begin. Here are a few recommendations to get you on the right track:
- Take a Maintenance Inventory:
Your first step should be to talk to walk around your home – inside and out and make a list of any repairs, deferred maintenance you think might be necessary prior to selling. Fresh paint, updated lighting, repairing plumbing leaks, caulking, cleaning or replacing soiled carpet, staining decks, and tidying landscaping are just some examples of things that might need attention.
- Call Me for a Pre-Listing Walkthrough:
Step #1 may cause you to ask, “Do I really need to complete all of these? Which ones do I have to pay attention to and which improvements might not be worth the investment?” I am happy to go through your list with you and give you suggestions based on my experience over many years. I love to give clients tips on the small investments which make BIG impacts when selling.
- Make Repairs/Improvements:
This step in the process usually requires the most amount of time – but is totally dependent on the amount and type of repairs you identify. Ordering carpet may require more lead time than painting a room, so planning ahead pays off.
- Declutter – Start Packing!:
You’ll need to pack it anyway, so begin this process as you prepare your home for staging. All personal photos, knick knacks, etc can be removed and packed. Our pre-listing walkthrough will help you to identify what to pack and what to leave. Some sellers find it necessary to rent some temporary storage space for the listing timeframe if ample storage space isn’t available at your home.
- Consider Testing your home for Radon:
There is a heightened awareness of radon in homes and the dangers it poses. Buyers will usually test for radon unless a test has already been performed and safe results were reported. Dealing with radon ahead of time can relieve stress of having to take care of it right before closing.