Prepping Your Home and Putting your Best Foot Forward
One of the biggest challenges I have when discussing the listing process with sellers is explaining how much goes into preparing a home. Most sellers work extremely hard to prepare so that their house looks ready for a potential buyer. 99% of the houses I list need paint, deep cleaning, windows washed, furnaces serviced, and landscaping. That can add up, but rest assured, it promises to put your best foot forward so that the buyers can find no objections to writing it up.
Here are a few examples of what a little spiffing up can do. This gorgeous home sold in less than a week, with 10 offers, and around 15% over ask. The expense to prepare seemed daunting, but they saw their return and more.
There are many different factors that go into selling a home within the timeframe and price range that you desire. Some of these factors are within your control and some are not. It is imperative that you enter into the real estate market with a good understanding of what may affect your home sale and how you can make the process as seamless as possible.
Barriers You Cannot Change
There are several barriers to selling your home that are outside of your control. These are some of the items that may deter homebuyers from looking at your house.
● Crime rate in the area
● School System
● The location and size of your lot
● A steep driveway
● Large power lines nearby
There really isn’t anything you can do to remedy these obstacles when getting ready to list your house. Hopefully, the number of barriers that you cannot change are minimal while selling your home.
Barriers You Can Remove From Selling Your Home
There are ways to reduce the number of barriers between selling your home. The best way to identify these barriers is to speak with your real estate agent and trust their expertise. They will help you to identify the obstacles getting in the way of your home sale. Here are some common obstacles:
1- Restrictions on Showings
The biggest barrier to selling your home is reducing the number of showings. Have a flexible window of time for people to come and view your home. Be prepared to have your home clean and showing ready at all times.
2- Pets
Pets in the home can create various obstacles to selling. First, have a plan with what you are going to do with the animal during showings. Consider having a nearby family member to take care of them before your house is under contract do you don’t have to worry about them being present during showings. Be diligent about removing any odors from your pet before listing your house. Offer an allergenic carpet cleaning for any buyers who may have allergies to pets.
3- Deferred Maintenance
Homes that need repairs or have deferred maintenance – roof issues, window leaks, heater and air conditioner challenges – raise red flags with buyers and may exclude buyers who don’t want to take on issues like this due to money or inconvenience. I recommend that sellers fix as many of these as possible before listing.
There are additional barriers to avoid! Take heed to the advice from your real estate agent about removing barriers and follow it. Selling a home is deeply personal for you, however, this is their job and they can objectively identify what needs to be done to sell. Take action to remove these barriers and find yourself on the way to closing.