Buying or selling in the Carolinas?

 Are You Prepared?

It’s easy for sellers to assume that in the revitalized housing market that houses will just sell themselves. While house prices are up and there are more buyers on the market everyday sellers can’t rest on their laurels and hope that if they plop a for-sale sign in the yard their house will be sold by the end of the week.

To get the highest possible price and quickest turn around time there are a number of things any home owner must do to prepare the house for selling.

1. Disconnect:

We can get really attached to our houses; that’s why many people use the word home. It’s important, however, for people selling their house to really disconnect emotionally from their house. To sell a house is equivalent to selling any other product and to get the most out of what you’re selling it is necessary to look objectively at your house. By disconnecting emotionally you’ll be able to look at your house as a prospective buyer would, and make difficult decisions that will help your house sell better.  

2. Clean Up:

This really does go without saying but few people realize just how extensive their cleaning of the house should be. It doesn’t just mean picking up garbage and washing off the counters. Before putting their house on the market sellers should wash their windows down, spray down their driveway, sidewalks and house exterior with a rented pressure washer, re-caulk sinks, tubs, and showers, polish any metallic faucets or mirrors, go through the refrigerator throw out most food, constantly vacuum, wax the floors, bleach, buy new rugs, dust all light fixtures and furniture, and hang up fresh and clean towels. If this seems extensive thats because it is. Selling a house is important and a seller needs to put forth the best image of the house possible.

3. Get A Storage Unit:

If a seller really wants a house to sell then at some point before the house goes on the market they should rent a storage unit. There are very few houses that wouldn’t sell better with less furniture. In selling a home minimalism is key and keeping only the furniture necessary to display a rooms purpose is a must.

This storage unit is also a great place to store personal items like family pictures and heirlooms that though sentimental, cloud a potential buyers vision of the home. A seller wants to enable a buyer to insert his or her dream home into the house and by removing personal items and storing them, sellers can free up their homes and make them much more flexible.

A lot of the de-cluttering and storing can be considered almost a pre-packing. Removing all frivolous knickknacks and personal items the home may have accrued really does add market value to a home.

4. If Anythings Broken, Fix It:

This means replacing anything cracked or shattered, from tiles to mirrors. It also means replacing any burnt out or flickering lightbulbs, patching that hole in the wall (it doesn’t add character), and fixing those leaky faucets.

Selling a house is a huge deal and there are a number of things owners should do before putting their house on the market. We have just covered the basic but most important things any potential home owner should do to prepare their house for being put on the market.