How to Get Your House Ready to Sell
If you want to sell your property quickly and, preferably, for the highest possible price, the first thing you should do is take a step back and evaluate what it is that you are selling. Is the condition of your simple home such that it will entice potential purchasers?
There is a good chance that your house has seen some level of deterioration throughout the course of its lifetime. It’s possible that you’ve grown accustomed to the squeaky floorboards or sticky doors in your home, but potential buyers who are seeing it for the first time might not be as fond of these quirks… They likely have a large number of additional choices available to them on where to reside.
If you want your home to stand out from the rest of the properties on the market, you should get everything in order and make any necessary adjustments so that it presents itself in the most favourable light. Here is how to make sure that your house is ready to be put up for sale, as well as some things that need to be fixed or upgraded right now that will pay off when you get an offer.
Compute the ages of the different things.
No matter how beautiful your home appears at first glance, any prospective purchaser worth their salt will point out various features and ask, “How old is that?” You will need to compile some papers in order to have your house ready for sale because estimates aren’t going to cut it.
If you purchased your home within the last few years, you should look through your home records or the seller’s disclosure to determine the age of major components (specifically, your roof, HVAC system, water heater, and gutters) as well as the date of their most recent repair. Alternatively, you can look through copies of your own maintenance records or receipts.
You can get a general idea of what the average lifespan is from the National Association of Home Builders. The length of time that things last is determined by a variety of factors, such as the model and how well they have been maintained. Take, for instance:
• Wood shingles and shake roofs have a lifespan of 15 to 30 years
• 15 years for the air conditioner in the central part of the house
• 14 years for the electric water heater
• 30 years for the gutters
Perform your own walk-through while keeping an eye out for the following common issue areas:
• Wood decay around garage door frames, window ledges, and door frames exterior of the house. These areas are more susceptible to deterioration and decomposition as a result of condensation and rain.
• Stains of water on the ceiling or in the area around the doors and windows This could mean that the roof is leaking or that rain is coming in from the outside.
• Puddles that form around the toilets or under the sinks.
• Bumpy or discolored hardwood floors or carpeting, which may be an indication of water issues or an uneven foundation.
The following step is to examine what is known as the “functionality” of each room. For instance, according to Crouch, repairs should be made to “cracks visible in the walls and floor, doors that don’t shut straight, broken handles on cupboards, and generally everything that doesn’t operate perfectly.” In addition to that, make sure you check the outside.
“The outside is often neglected by sellers, despite the fact that it is of utmost significance. According to Darbi McGlone, a real estate agent working for Jim Talbot Real Estate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, “That is where prospective purchasers will get their initial impressions.”
It could be helpful to get the advice of your real estate agent on what should be fixed in your home because you might be used to some of the “small peculiarities” that it has.
Think about getting a pre-inspection.
Before you make the decision that you’re ready to sell your home, it’s a good idea to get a professional opinion after you’ve completed your own inspection of the property. These individuals have the ability to notice problems that you may have overlooked, either because you are accustomed to them or because you did not know that they could cause trouble. You have the option of enlisting the assistance of a real estate agent or hiring a house inspector to carry out an inspection (or a pre-inspection) in order to locate issues ranging from faulty wiring to plumbing that has seen better days.
People often spend between $300 and $500 on a home inspection, although the price can range anywhere in that range. You can locate a home inspector in your region by visiting the website of the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors®. It might set you back a little bit of money, but in the long run, it will save you a lot of stress by ensuring that you won’t have to deal with any unpleasant surprises. In point of fact, having a home inspection report on hand to show potential buyers can instil confidence in them, as well as in you, that they won’t be in for any unpleasant surprises as you approach closer to making a deal on the property.
What kinds of improvements you should do before selling
Once you have determined which aspects of your home are in need of maintenance or enhancements, the next step is to choose where you will invest your money. Don’t worry, not everything needs to be done to your home before it’s ready to be listed on the market. And while the prospect of renovating a property that you are planning to sell is probably not something that excites you very much, there are certain repairs that will give you an edge over the competition, which will result in more and better bids. Always keep in mind that real estate may be an investment!
But don’t get too caught up in the apparent things; for example, the cabinets in your kitchen could want some updating. After all, many purchasers would want to change cosmetic features to better suit their own preferences, which means you could be throwing money away if you do not provide them the option to do so. Instead, you should concentrate on repairing things that are less sensitive to differences in personal taste and that customers would rather know are in good form.
