Dreadfully cold weather tends to keep most of us in West Michigan inside as much as possible. Looking outside my window today, this is definitely the case. With the exception of the snow plow guys, there are few cars on the street. Even regular dog walkers seem to be sitting in on this one. If you’ve been thinking about putting your home on the spring market, the prospect of you or someone looking at your home getting stuck in a snow drift in your driveway is a little depressing. However, there are a number of things that can be done indoors on days like today to keep you on track with regards to being in your new home as soon as possible.
Clear Out Closet Space!
Winter is a great time to reassess the contents of your closet. If you haven’t worn something once during the year, perhaps it’s time to give it away, donate it or throw it out. Consider it a small step in the ‘letting go’ process…letting go of smaller items as you prepare to let go of your home so you can make room for new things and new beginnings.
Touch-up Paint
After the holiday decorations are taken down, a home often looks starkly plain. This is a great time to examine the state of your walls and woodwork. Is there grime or dirt that needs to be washed or painted? If you’re stuck indoors, consider picking up a sponge or paintbrush amd doing some touch-up painting. This is one of the cheapest ways to enhance the appearance of your home.
Organize Garage
Yes, the garage will be cold, but at least it is protected from the elements. If possible, it is better to clear out your garage when putting a home on the market. The next best option is to organize it. Neatly staked/arranged boxes or shelves will make even a cluttered garage look as though there is some space for someone else to put their stuff.
Involve Your Kids
On a days like today, most schools have been cancelled. So kids are home. And they can be useful, particularly if they have an incentive to help or if an activity is fun. You know your kids better than anyone else, so think about how to motivate them to help you with getting your home ready for sale.
Collect Documentation for Mortgage Application
If you will require a mortgage to purchase your next home, this is a good time to begin to gather the necessary documentation for your lender. They are likely to ask for financial records such as a month’s worth of pay stubs, bank statements, last year’s tax returns etc. Taking the time to put these items in one spot now will save you time in the future.
Update Multiple Listing (MLS) Search Profile
Housing inventory remains tight in the West Michigan area and across much of the country. Hopefully, you have created a customized online search profile and are receiving real time updates of available home listings. If you haven’t done so, that is definitely step 1! Assuming you have a search profile in place, take the time to review it. Are there some areas or types of homes which might work which are not included in your current specifications? The number 1 reason that many people fail to have the best results when searching online is that they make their computer specifications for a home too narrow. Sometimes, just a little tweak will yield a new set of results for you.
Always feel free to contact us for assistance with your real estate needs. We’re here to help!
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