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Don't Put Your Home on the Market Before it is Truly Ready!

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 DRE# ER40011786

 

 

Many times homeowners want their home on the market RIGHT NOW.    Maybe they need to get to their new home quickly, or have other personal reasons to get their home sold quickly.

 

Putting a home on the market prior to it being truly ready for showings, is a huge mistake.     Those repairs or de-cluttering efforts and of course deep cleaning should be complete prior to being available for showings.  Buyers will see what still needs to be done, and make offers below list price, or worse - not make an offer if it needs work.

 

It is good to get these items done prior to having a home active on the market - 

 

 

Deep clean more than you ever have before, every nook & cranny in the home, it does make a difference.   Don't forget the intake vents up high and the baseboards!  

~ De-clutter every room, even if you think the room will look empty.    If you have a treadmill or other exercise equipment in the master bedroom, remove it - put it in the basement or garage.  You want the master bedroom to FEEL like one.   Less is always better but still should look homey!   

~ If you need to touch-up paint, or have the carpets cleaned, do so prior to listing.

~ If possible, clean the windows.   In Denver with so many sunny days, those windows look better when they are clean, and especially if you have views.

~ If you know of things that need repair - do so prior to listing.  Usually, these items will be on the inspection anyway, so do so prior so buyers won't have a reason to make an offer below list price.

~ Curb appeal - it is tough in the winter when nothing is green, but be sure all the dead plants and leaves are cleaned up and are neat and tidy.   Many times homeowners do not use their front door and come inside through the garage.  Be sure to check the front door for cobwebs and make it nice & clean.    You should be the nicest home on the block when you have a for sale sign in your yard!

 

Over the last few years when we have seen such a frenzy in the spring and summer, we see so many homeowners just have the REALTOR put the sign in the ground, and that is it.  Pictures are done with cell phones, and homes have been anything but clean.     Buyers truly love homes absolutely turn-key and are clean.   Why not put out that type of listing, and homeowners are amazed at how many showings and offers they get!

 

You get one chance to make that FIRST IMPRESSION, make it one, buyers won't be able to refuse!

 

Posted by

Joan Cox
Broker/Owner, REALTOR®
House to Home, Inc.

Serving the Denver Metro area including all suburbs


Helping Buyers and Sellers achieve their real estate dreams, one house at a time!

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Comments (14)

Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Hi Joan... just took photos yesterday of a home I looked at in November. It's taken them that long to get it ready for market. The good news is that everything was blooming making the entire setting gorgeous. You don't get a second chance to make a good first impression. I always tell my clients a few extra weeks to prepare the home and an extra week to prepare the right marketing materials pays off at the end.

Apr 11, 2023 07:11 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Joan - frenziness in all its forms can have an impact.  Sometimes in the moment and maybe a bit more than that too.  However, I believe there are basics that continue to matter.  

Apr 11, 2023 07:36 AM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Joan,

I couldn't agree more.  Unfortunately, sometimes this isn't possible.  I have a client who lives in Hawaii and just left to go back on Easter morning. 

Apr 11, 2023 09:09 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Nina Hollander, Broker will be anxious to see your new listing, and funny when it takes that long to get a home ready for the market.

Apr 11, 2023 01:34 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker

Joan Cox my older clients have lived in this house for 32 years and are downsizing to a home that's a third the size of this one. Plus on a huge lot. Of course, they are my age and I shouldn't be calling them "older."

Apr 11, 2023 01:53 PM
Joan Cox

Nina Hollander, Broker that is a lot to take care of at "our age".   LOL

Apr 11, 2023 02:20 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Michael, many basics to consider.

Apr 11, 2023 01:34 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Sheri Sperry - MCNE® I have had those sellers too, but always better when it is truly ready.

Apr 11, 2023 01:34 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Joan- I couldn't agree more!  If you do nothing else, make your home spotless, edit what you have and address what needs to be fixed. 

Apr 11, 2023 06:24 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Solid advice. Those who take it will be glad and those who don't will be disappointed.

Apr 11, 2023 08:29 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Kathy, most homes cannot just go on the market without some extra work.

Apr 12, 2023 06:20 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Marte, so true, and those sellers will see the end result they are looking for.

Apr 12, 2023 06:20 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

These are all great tips to prepare the home before putting it on the market. I'm an expert with #3 - look above your head to see how dirty those return air vents and bathroom vents can be and clean them before anyone gets turned off by them.

Apr 13, 2023 11:51 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty homeowners are always amazed I find these, think it is a REALTOR thing.

Apr 14, 2023 10:33 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Great information to help those looking in today's housing market for their next home.  Move-in ready is best!  

Apr 17, 2023 04:42 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Jan, most buyers do want move-in ready!

Apr 17, 2023 04:54 PM