The time has come: you need to sell your house, and it’s a process that’s easier said than done. To get the best price and quickest sale for your property, it’s no secret that you’ll need to stage the house, market the property, and go through a parade of showings.
But to put yourself in the best possible position, there are steps you should take before even getting to those tasks and meeting with a real estate agent. By taking care of these 6 important things to do before selling your house, you’ll make the rest of the process much smoother going forward.
1. Research Sale Prices
If you’ve been out of the real estate market for a while, this is a good time to get reacquainted with your local market and the current conditions. Get on a few of the popular real estate websites and look at the sale prices for comparable houses in your area. The most accurate information will come from sales for houses similar square footage, amenities, bedrooms and bathrooms, neighborhood, and overall condition.
While your real estate agent will do their own homework, this will help you get on the same page quicker and show that you’re serious about selling.
2. Gather Your Paperwork
You’ll want to look for several types of documents. Start by digging out your original mortgage agreement so that you can determine the precise amount that you owe on the house. Taking this step before you meet with an agent will help them know what kind of strategy to take for getting you the best sale price.
Next, get out any manuals and/or warranties for your HVAC system, sprinkler system, pool, and any appliances. Having these handy will help buyers maintain the house down the road.
Finally, keep a fews months of utility bills on hand. Showing what you actually pay for water, electric, and trash could be a deciding factor for buyers torn between two houses.
3. Estimate What Needs Updating
When it comes down to negotiating, everything about the house will be fair game. So if you know that the water heater, roof, or any other system in the house is old and tired, get an estimate of what it would take to fix now.
That way when a buyer asks for a steep price reduction based on the cost of repairs, you’ll have the actual numbers ready to show them and keep the deal fair.
4. Clean Up
If there was a time for deep cleaning, it’s now. Vacuum behind the stove, wash the windows, shampoo the carpet, and get the yard landscaped. Inside and outside, make sure the property looks sparkling clean and well maintained.
This could also mean making some small repairs and renovations, but wait for your agent’s advice to avoid investing money unnecessarily.
5. Look at Your Flexibility
Take a look at your schedule. The agent will advise you on the best times for buyers to come by, but having an idea of the days and times that will work for you now can get the process started off sooner.
You’ll also need to make arrangements for any pets and kids to go somewhere else during showings as well to minimize distractions to any prospective buyers and let them imagine living in the house.
6. Take Pictures of Different Seasons
While there’s no reason you can’t make a successful sale in winter, showing off how the property looks in the spring and summer can help boost appeal even more. If you have a lush lawn and flowering gardens when it’s warm, take a few snapshots and have them available for buyers to look at during the cooler months.
Doing some work on the sale of your home upfront will make the initial meeting with a realtor and the tasks that come after that much faster and more productive. Overall, these steps will ultimately set you up for a quicker sale and more profitable price.
Are you overwhelmed by the complicated home selling process? Have too many repairs to make? Sell your house for cash! Call us at 469-250-0018 or fill out an online form to get an offer within 24 hours!