Selling a home is frequently more work than most sellers expect.
Along with the listing, there are inspections, showings, cleanings, paintings, meetings, and more, making it easy to run out of time to finish the stuff you planned.
Since the average American moves as many as 11 times in their lifetime, moving is inevitable for almost everyone. Even if it’s a few years out, it’s not a bad idea to get a head start on the prep work to help give your family the best possible advantage when the time to sell comes around.
There are some simple, as well as not-so-simple, tips that sellers can start working on right away:
1. Prepare for Inspections
Once you’re home goes under contract, it’s expected that the buyers will want to have the home inspected by a professional and if your house isn’t in good shape, it could blow the whole deal. Home inspections typically focus on exterior and interior walls, air conditioning and heating, structural integrity, electrical and plumbing, and roofing.
While any of these repairs can cost in the hundreds or even thousands of dollars, it might be worth it to have them done before putting the house on the market. At a minimum, get in touch with the right professional and have these things checked out, so you aren’t caught off-guard when the inspection comes around.
“Discovering safety issues and big-ticket items like roof or water heater replacement ahead of time is huge,” Bill Hourigan with The Platinum Group, REALTORS® said. “It is so much less stressful to deal with issues that will definitely be addressed later, than get hit with a possible deal-breaker.”
2. Embark on remodeling projects with good ROI
Before you start any major remodeling projects, it’s smart to get an idea of what your home is worth now. The professionals at The Platinum Group, REALTORS® are happy to chat with you and give you an estimate on your home’s value.
It’s widely recommended that seller’s focus on flooring and paint first, when contemplating home updates. These are often simple, do-it-yourself projects that can create a clean, fresh, and attractive look to your home.
According to Remodeling’s Cost vs. Value 2017 report, the best thing to remodel right now is your attic insulation – upgrading can get you a 116 percent ROI. But, before starting any projects, talk to an experienced, Platinum Group, REALTORS® agent and find out what makes the most sense in your market. It’s best to spend your money wisely and these local experts know what people are most interested in buying at any time.
3. Finish any projects you started
Unfinished work makes it difficult to show the house and will mostly likely delay the sale. Most buyers are not looking to buy a home that requires them to complete someone else’s incomplete ventures before they can begin enjoying their new home.
4. Fine tune landscaping
Curb appeal draws buyers to a home at first glance. A combination of visual charm and attention to detail, landscaping can make or break a sale. A home that lacks curb appeal will force many prospective buyers to reject it without even looking further.
“Curb appeal can get a buyer to view a home they might otherwise have overlooked,” Hourigan said. “Like a raised ranch or bi-level floor plan.”
5. Consult a real estate professional
To get the most money out of your home sale and be better prepared for a home purchase, it pays off to do everything right from the start. A professional realtor can identify and eliminate all of these issues while helping sellers confidently navigate the transaction and saving sellers thousands of dollars.
The number one independent real estate firm in Colorado Springs brings together the top realtors with the best tools and resources to provide home buyers and sellers with platinum service and platinum results. With over 80 percent of their business coming from referrals, The Platinum Group, REALTORS® deliver top-quality customer service with the utmost honesty, integrity and attention.
