List To Sell: Getting Your Home In Shape
One of the most important aspects of selling your home is making look as appealing as possible to potential buyers. You want your home to stand out from the crowd and really wow those shopping for a new house.
The question is, where do you start?
Here are some of the ways in which you can ensure your home is ready to sell at the best price possible:
How old are aspects of your home?
As temping as it is to look at the home in the big picture, potential buyers often pick apart the little things and those little things can turn into deal breakers. There will likely be parts of your home that people will point at and ask how old it is. It is important for you to not only know the answers to these questions but to have the paperwork to back it up.
These are the most common and important questions you need to be able to answer:
- Age of the roof
- Age of HVAC system
- Age of water heater
- Age of gutters
Give it a walk through with a keen eye
Go through your home room by room and really pay attention to the little details. Imagine that you are seeing the home for the first time, what would you be looking for and what would put you off?
Here are some common problem areas that need some attention:
Wooden door frames, window ledges as well as garage doors
- These often get weak and rot from age and moisture
Water stains
- These often appear on ceilings as well as near doors or windows but they can be anywhere if you have had leaks in the past. These look terrible to potential home buyers and they are an easy, often cheap fix.
Leaking sinks and toilets
- This too sends a bad message to buyers since leaks can lead to rot.
Flooring
- Look for bumps in the carpeting or discoloration of hardwood floors. This can mean a couple of different things. It could be a sign of water damage or even an uneven foundation.
Test functionality
This has to do with paying attention to things like:
- Doors not closing properly
- Broken handles on doors or cabinetry
- Window latches
Basically if something does not work right, fix it. And remember to check the outside of the home for functionality, inspections from potential buyers don’t end indoors.
Consider hiring an inspector
It can be tough to spot everything in your own home. We are so used to looking at everything day after day that we no longer really see things for what they are. That is why it is a good idea to get a professional to come in and do their own walk through. Professionals will be able to tell you even more about your home and what might need fixing such as plumbing or electrical problems.
Take time to understand what will improve the value of your home
Not everything is going to add tremendous value to your home. It is vital that you understand how each fix will affect your bottom line. In some cases, it is better to do the small fixes rather than replace expensive items since the buyer might want to change that anyway. Discuss this will your realtor, he or she should be able to help you in this respect.
Make final decisions on what needs renovation
Once you have a good handle on what is wrong with your home, it is time to repair it. Many of the things I mentioned in this article are affordable fixes that will not take long to do. If you need more serious work, consider hiring professionals to do things up right. Then keep the paperwork to show to potential homebuyers if they ask for it.
Understanding what needs to be fixed up and then making the repairs could mean you sell your home faster and if you do things right, which I am sure you will, you could even end up getting more money for your home.