Prepare Home
Every seller wants their home to sell quickly and for a large profit, but it takes more than luck to make that happen. It involves careful planning and knowing how to professionally prepare your home to convince buyers to pull out their checkbooks.
Make Advisable Repairs and Upgrades
Your agent can help you determine what upgrades and repairs are worth the money before you list. Depending on the market conditions, your agent might recommend different repairs. For example, many agents recommend applying a fresh coat of paint before listing if it’s been a while, but you probably shouldn’t worry about upgrading your bathroom in a seller’s market.
Declutter
You don’t want lots of your stuff out when it comes time to take photos or have people walk through the house. Not only is it advisable to clear your clutter out of your house and move it to the garage or to storage, it’s also a good idea to remove your personal items so buyers can see themselves in the space.
Deep Clean
You’ll also want your home as clean as possible when you list. If you’re not confident in your cleaning abilities or you don’t have the time, consider hiring a cleaning company for a deep, move-out clean.
Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is very real; what your buyers see from the street is a vital part of their first impressions. Be sure to keep your lawn or outdoor areas in tip-top shape, even if it’s the winter. You may also consider refreshing your exterior with paint or simple landscaping to make that first impression even sweeter.
Staging
You can also speak with your agent about whether you should professionally stage your home. Some staging companies can stage your home virtually, while leaving your personal furniture in the home for the actual walk-through. Remember, buyers want to be able to see themselves in your space.
Professional Photos
Agents also have relationships with professional photographers who specialize in real estate. Most buyers start their home search online, making it absolutely vital that your home looks as professional as possible on its online listing to grab buyers’ attention.
Listing
When you’re ready to begin letting the world know that your home is for sale and are accepting offers, your agent will list your property on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), MLSs are private databases created and maintained by real estate professionals (agents, brokers, and so on) to help their clients buy and sell property. The “listing” in the title is another word for “a home for sale,” in industry terms.
Promotions Online and Offline
Your agent will design a marketing plan for your home, which will likely include both online and offline marketing. Online marketing includes listing the home on the MLS, sharing it on social media, and posting about open houses. Offline marketing includes fliers, listing the home in newspapers and magazines, and sharing the listing with other agents.
Showings
Additionally, your real estate agent will handle showings of your home. Most likely, you won’t be present during showings to help remove the emotional connection for both you and the buyers. Speak with your agent about a schedule showing that works for you, and what times are off-limits for showings. Your agent may also set up an open house to get as many buyers as possible in the home at one time.
