You may be ready to list your home, but your home may not be ready. There are a few key things to take into consideration when getting ready to list your home.
Cleanliness
When hosting family or friends, you may not necessarily deep clean because, frankly, they are there to spend time with you, not inspect your house. However, when you are getting ready to sell, it becomes ABSOLUTELY necessary. The potential buyers will inspect and they probably will notice dirt and grime. If they buy your home, they do not want to potentially have to clean your dirt. A clean home will sell faster than another home of equal market value that is dirty.Of equal importance is daily housekeeping. Wipe down surfaces, make beds, tidy children's toys, dust and unclutter, which leads me to my next topic...
Staging
While it is not necessary to hire a professional, it would definitely behoove you to consider your current decor and possible changes you may need to make to get it sold and make it more appealing to a buyer. Keep things clean and simple. Limit knick-knacks, religious decor, and personal photos. Consider removing items off bathroom and kitchen counters to eliminate clutter. Packing away items that aren't used daily not only will save you time on packing for moving day, but it will also cut down on the clutter. Fewer items in a room can not only make it feel and look bigger, but it helps the buyer focus on the home and not the things within. Then LET IN THE LIGHT! Open shades/blinds/curtains and clean the windows. Dingy windows let in less light. Additionally, you'll get a lot of value by painting. Selecting a neutral tone and painting the home throughout is appealing to buyers and it gives the home a fresh feel which is a great selling point.
Repairs
Maybe you have put off putting that closet door back on the hinges, or fixing a ripped screen - but now is the time. Unless the buyer is looking at the home as an investment property, chances are buyers will not want to walk into a home that needs repairs. Not only that, but depending on the buyer's loan type, they may require completion of home repairs prior to finalizing the sale. Often times, you may need to make repairs that you didn't know existed. This is where I always recommend to my sellers to consider a pre-listing inspection. Hire the same type of inspector that a buyer would hire to check for any and all problems with the home prior to listing so you know what needs to be done prior to listing, or you can adjust listing price accordingly.
