On the intense side, there is plenty that you can do in the week before listing a home for sale that can help alleviate your mind, and that might even assist your home get under contract quicker. Here are 10 things to do now, prior to your house goes live.
Start spreading out the word
Simply because your home isn't technically prepared for provings yet does not suggest that you can't begin the process of letting people know it will be offered. Some realtors will offer you with a "coming soon" indication that you can publish up in your front backyard, however even if yours doesn't, you can take the initiative and start letting people know on your social channels. Noted homes are typically at their most preferable right when they hit the market, so the more interest you can generate right in the beginning, the better.
Throw out, recycle, or contribute what you do not require any longer
Buyers want to be able to see themselves in homes when they go for a showing, and having a bunch of the previous owner's things lying around can truly mess with that vision. In addition to helping buyers picture themselves living in your house, modifying down your things now will be a huge assistance when you require to clear out for last-minute showings.Go through each space (yes, even closets-- purchasers will desire to look in there) and arrange unwanted items into three piles-- trash, recycle, and donate.
Start staging
And even if decorating isn't your strong suit, it's a part of the home selling procedure you can't actually overlook-- 49% of purchasers' representatives specify that home staging has a positive effect on how buyers view a home, according to the National Association of Realtors' 2017 Staging Statistics report, and 21% of purchasers' representatives state it increases the value of a home and decreases the time it sits on the market. The week before listing a house for sale is an excellent time to begin staging, considering that you'll have some time to truly make sure it's done.
Determine a prepare for pets and/or kids
When showings occur, if you have little ones at home-- two-legged or four-- make sure that you have a plan in location for. The home must be totally empty when prospective purchasers come through, which is a hassle on your end but something that has to be managed. If you do not have a great deal of versatility, speak to a trusted good friend, household, or neighbor member and see if they can organize to help you out in case your kids or pets require a place to go during a showing.
Set expectations with your real estate agent
The very first number of weeks that a home is noted for sale tend to be quite busy in terms of market activity. Talk to your real estate agent now, in the week prior to you go live, about expectations you have about how things ought to go so that you know precisely what to expect. This includes the lead time you want to have in between showing requests and the provings themselves (2 hours is normally a great way to go), any guidelines you have for when purchasers and their agents are in your home (let your real estate agent know if you're a no-shoe household so they can supply booties), and anything else that will be more difficult to control once the listing is active.
Increase your curb appeal
In addition to staging inside your house, you also wish to put some effort into making the outside of your house look as welcoming as possible. While the stating may be not to judge a book by its cover, people typically do. Cut your yard, eliminate any weeds, and clean as necessary. Utilize a power washer to clean them off and have them looking great as new if your siding or driveway might utilize a refresh. For other easy ways to enhance your directory home's curb appeal, take a look at these ideas.
Discover another location for personal items
Because once again, purchasers are trying to envision what their life would be like in your home, and that can be hard to do when they're surrounded by someone else's family images. The week prior to listing a house for sale, go through and eliminate as much personal products as you can. It will feel a little bit strange to live in your house without all these personal things around, but it's worth it if it indicates your home gets scooped up much faster.
Stash valuables
A big majority of the people who go to house showings are doing it with the finest of intentions, however there are certainly scary stories of people who go in looking for prized possessions to take. It's constantly better to be safe than sorry, so discover a safe storage spot for things like precious jewelry, checkbooks, medications, and anything else that may be of strong interest to someone else.
Do some repair work
The week prior to you list is a terrific time to make sure all little repairs are looked after. Fixing up chips or fractures in paint, scuff marks, and loose cabinets will go a long way towards guaranteeing that your house looks its extremely best. If there are any significant repair work that you plan to look after, start checking out your options now so that your representative can let buyers know that repairs are in the works.
Deep tidy
Start the procedure early and get going with a blank slate by setting aside a day for offering your house a top-to-bottom deep clean. It won't be enjoyable, but at least it will be much easier to ensure your house is as clean as possible for provings when they do start occurring.
Selling a house is a major transition long prior to the moving truck arrives. Utilizing the week prior to listing a house for sale to get your bearings and optimize your residential or commercial property for a fast sale is a smart concept for all sellers, and will absolutely make the entire procedure much easier on you and your family.