Collin County Market Watch : Great tips for getting your home prepared for sale
It seems like everyday a new headline pops up exclaiming that now is the time to get your home on the market. And in the DFW that is the absolute truth. In the DFW area inventory is scarce and all-time low interest rates have continued to keep buyer's searching for homes. With fewer and fewer homes to choose from buyer's are no longer the ones calling the shots in today's DFW real estate market. Home seller's are starting to see multiple offers on their homes and sometimes even seeing them sell for more than the asking price.
Having your home ready from day 1 that it hits the market for sale is very crucial. You are only given one opportunity to make a first impression on potential buyers. So, not only how you present your home initially, but how your Realtor presents your home with online marketing and visual presentations, will have a HUGE impact on the price and amount of time it takes to sell your home.So what can you, the potential home seller, do to prepare your home so that when it hits the market it is one of the homes to receive multiple offers? Below are some great tips from Realtor.com on what you the potential home seller should be doing to prepare your home for sale.
Maximizing exterior and curb appeal
Before putting your house on the market, take as much time as necessary (and as little money as possible) to maximize its exterior and interior appeal. Tips to enhance your home’s exterior and curb appeal:
- Keep the lawn edged, cut and watered regularly.
- Trim hedges, weed lawns and flowerbeds, and prune trees regularly.
- Check the foundation, steps, walkways, walls and patios for cracks and crumbling.
- Inspect doors and windows for peeling paint.
- Clean and align gutters.
- Inspect and clean the chimney.
- Repair and replace loose or damaged roof shingles.
- Repair and repaint loose siding and caulking.
- In Northern winters, keep walks neatly cleared of snow and ice.
- During spring and summer months consider adding a few showy annuals, perhaps in pots, near your front entrance.
- Re-seal an asphalt driveway.
- Keep your garage door closed.
- Store RVs or old and beaten up cars elsewhere while the house is on the market.
- Apply a fresh coat of paint to the front door.
Maximizing interior appeal
Enhance your home’s interior by:
- Giving every room in the house a thorough cleaning, as well as removing all clutter. This alone will make your house appear bigger and brighter. Some homeowners with crowded rooms have actually rented storage garages and moved half their furniture out, creating a sleeker, more spacious look
- Hiring a professional cleaning service, once every few weeks while the house is on the market. This may be a good investment for owners who are busy elsewhere.
- Removing the less frequently used, even daily used items from kitchen counters, closets, and attics, making these areas much more inviting. Since you're anticipating a move anyhow, holding a garage sale at this point is a great idea.
- If necessary, repainting dingy, soiled or strongly colored walls with a neutral shade of paint, such as off-white or beige. The same neutral scheme can be applied to carpets and linoleum.
- Checking for cracks, leaks and signs of dampness in the attic and basement.
- Repairing cracks, holes or damage to plaster, wallboard, wallpaper, paint, and tiles.
- Replacing broken or cracked windowpanes, moldings, and other woodwork. Inspecting and repairing the plumbing, heating , cooling, and alarm systems.
- Repairing dripping faucets and showerheads. Buying showy new towels for the bathroom, to be brought out only when prospective buyers are on the way.
- Sprucing up a kitchen in need of more major remodeling by investing in new cabinet knobs, new curtains, or a coat of neutral paint.
Remember, you only have one chance to make a first impression so don't choose a Realtor who is not committed to making that first impression a great one. CLICK HERE to learn how The Jan Webb Team can help your home make a GREAT first impression from day 1
