Are you thinking of selling your home this Spring?
We know selling a home can be a stressful task, and sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. We’ve put together a list of 10 steps to help make your life easier and help make your home the best on the block for a quick, profitable sale this Spring.
1. Meet with a Realtor
Before you do anything, you’ll want to meet with a licensed real estate agent to create your timeline and action plan for putting your house on the market. This is a step many people don’t think about until later – but it’s actually the very first thing you should do!
Your Realtor should also be able to provide suggestions to help you get the home ready to go on the market. This involves staging recommendations – ideally from a certified professional home stager – as well as guidance on what updates and repairs will provide the best return on your investment. For example: if you think you need to update your bathrooms, wait to hear what your Realtor recommends.
2. Clear out Clutter
Cluttered homes don’t photograph well and they certainly don’t entice buyers. If you know you want to sell soon, it’s best to start clearing out clutter now. That means removing items that you don’t want or need and donating, selling, or throwing them away. This will help your house appear cleaner, larger, and more desirable.
3. Work with a Professional Home Stager
95% of staged homes sell in 11 days or less, for 17% more money. A home stager can show you the tips and tricks to make your home look as beautiful as possible, and appeal to today’s buyers. Remember, the way you live in your home and the way you market and sell your home are two very different things.
Staged homes sell faster and for more money, which is why our team has in-house staging division comprised of full-time professional home stagers ready to help make your home the best on the block. We provide a complimentary staging consultation, where our stager will meet you at your home and tour the house room by room, and then send you a detailed report of personalized recommendations.
4. Make Needed Updates + Improvements
You probably shouldn’t take on a major remodel right before moving, unless it’s been planned out and discussed with your real estate agent in advance (ahem, why we suggest starting with step 1!) but small updates here and there can make a huge difference, especially if your home is dated. Update worn flooring, replace windows, and repaint the walls in neutral hues. You should also make sure the house is in good working order and there are no outstanding problems before placing your home on the market.
5. Boost Curb Appeal
Most buyers will decide to take a deeper look at your house based solely on their first impression of the exterior. Make your yard look amazing by cutting the grass, trimming the trees, and cleaning off the roof. You can make your entry appear warm and inviting with simple décor – add a wreath to the door and add some potted plants or flower boxes to the front.
6. Have Professional Photos Taken
A Realtor snapping photos on a smartphone isn’t going to cut it in this competitive market. If your Realtor doesn’t have a professional photographer come photograph your home, then it’s time to part ways. 89% of buyers said photos are the most important part of the online listing. You never get a second chance to make a first impression, so make sure your photos look great.
Help your house stand out in the right way by taking advantage of our professional photography services. Once a home has been staged and photographed, it is then ready to be marketed heavily to the public. Our marketing team will make your home stand out in the best way.
7. Decide on a Competitive Asking Price
When choosing a Realtor, make sure you meet with an agent who not only will provide a comparative market analysis (to help determine the value of your home) but will also price it right. It is imperative to price your home right from the beginning, to ensure that the home will sell quickly and for top dollar. When a home is overpriced and sits on the market, buyers see it as having a problem – and it’ll sit on the market longer, which isn’t what you want.
8. Prep for Showings
Get your house ready for showings by doing a deep cleaning throughout the entire home. Don’t forget to wash the walls, create a fresh scent, and make those windows sparkle.
9. Discuss Showing Options with your Agent
We’re not quite out of the woods yet regarding coronavirus. Therefore, it is a good idea to discuss your showing options with your realtor. They may suggest doing a virtual tour, getting a matterport created, or creating a slideshow video instead of doing an in person open house depending on your state’s safe public gatherings guidelines. If you do go forward with an in-person Open House, make sure you also discuss how to safely execute one.
10. Spread the Word
Your real estate agent should handle marketing your home, even during the “coming soon” phase, but you can contribute by word-of-mouth. Spread the word that your home is going on the market to attract more buyers. If you choose a Lucido agent, we will market and expose your home and Open House to millions of people through our extensive advertising campaigns comprised of digital, social, geo-targeting, eblasts, signage, direct mail, and more.
