6 Tips for Preparing to Sell the Home That You’ve Lived in Forever
How you sell your house has changed. Condition DOES matter. Leaving worn carpeting so that your buyer can choose their own is a thing of the past.
6 Tips for Preparing to Sell the Home That You’ve Lived in Forever
People stay in their homes on average 10 years. It’s not often we find someone who’s been in the family home for 40 years or more. And yet, there
are still people who love where they live and have stayed in their homes for 20 years or more.
At some point, however, you may decide it’s time to move. Your own health may be a factor, or you decide that you want to be closer to family.
To maximize the investment you have in your home there are things that you can do to prepare your home for sale.
1.Know who your buyers are.
If you live in a 55+ community, buyers will be in that age demographic and older. Most buyers are looking for move-in ready homes, and this demographic is no different. Or you may be in a close-in neighborhood that is attractive to buyers looking for a quick commute to work.
It is doubtful that many will want to have to tackle major renovation and updating projects. And, if they do, their offering price will reflect it.
*This is why it’s so important to hire a qualified local agent who will know what’s selling and who’s buying in your area.
2. Make room in your budget for repairs and updates that can increase your chances of getting the price you’re hoping for.
Think of what’s important to you when you view a home.
The kitchen can often be the dealbreaker. Buyers may not want to invest the time or the money to bring a kitchen into this millennium. Look at the age of your appliances and countertops. Check your sinks and cabinets.
Worn, outdated or stained carpets don’t sell. Clean or replace your carpet. Replace your cracked tile as well. If your budget can handle it look at some of the newer alternatives to wood flooring.
Lighting is one of the easiest updates you can invest in. If you have the standard builder-basic lights in your Master Bathroom, go to your local hardware store and look into updated alternatives.
Look at some of the newer light fixtures that won’t say “old house” to a buyer.
Paint is one of the least expensive things you can do to improve the condition of your house. This is especially important if your choice of colors is too taste specific.
3. Now’s the time to address all of those maintenance projects you’ve been putting off. Keep in mind, your buyer wants to be able to move in and not take on major repair issues. If when they view your home, the calculator in their heads begins to add up everything that needs to be fixed or replaced, then your house may not make it on their shortlist of homes to buy.
4. If your buyer might be someone who is going through a lifestyle change, they need to see the space.
That often means transitioning from a 3500+ square foot home to something much more manageable.
It is important for them to be able to see your space and that includes the closets and, yes, the garage. Every possible storage space will be evaluated by buyers.
That means editing what you have. Store it, toss it, sell it or donate it.
5. Hire professionals to help you.
If you want to increase your chances of a smooth transaction and maximize your return on your investment, then make sure that you hire a professional real estate agent who is the local expert in your area.
Now is not the time to try to do all of the painting, flooring, wiring, etc yourself.
6. Evaluate any lifestyle modifications you’ve made to your home.
If you’ve lived in your home for what seems like forever, you may have made some modifications to assist you. These can include wheelchair ramps or special bars in your shower. You may have replaced toilets and sinks to be more user-friendly for you or a member of your family’s lifestyle.
This is why you’ll want a qualified local agent. They can tell you if the modifications will be a distraction for a potential buyer or if your buyers will welcome this. And then..listen to what they say.
How you sell your house has changed. Condition DOES matter. Leaving worn carpeting so that your buyer can choose their own is a thing of the past.
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Palm Beach County Home Stager
561-914-6224 Kathy@MrsHomeStaging.com
www.MrsHomeStaging.com
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