If the time has come for a change, you may be thinking of putting your home up for sale. A few strategic repairs and updates can really help to attract the attention of potential buyers. But which ones?
My goal is to help you avoid investing in repairs that won’t make much of a difference at all in either how fast your home sells or at what price. That way, you can focus all of your attention and resources on the projects that will offer the best return on your investment.
Some repairs are timeless, such as a fresh coat of paint and fixing broken lighting fixtures. Others will depend on the market and your specific situation. So, instead of telling you what to fix, let’s talk about how to decide what will have the most impact on selling your house successfully.
Do you want to sell your house faster and for more money than your neighbour down the street? My fun and unique Outsell Your Neighbour Challenge can help! Join today and get exclusive emails with tips and tricks to, well – outsell your neighbour – right here.
Assess Your Goals
Preparing your home for the market will take some time, and it’s important to be realistic about your priorities. If you need to sell as fast as possible, we can hit fast forward on parts of the process. However, you may have to accept some concessions, especially if there are other competing sellers in your area.
If you have the luxury of a little more time, we can work together to ensure your home makes a splash the moment it hits the market. It all begins with your priorities and knowing what you want to achieve from your sale.
Think of Your Buyer
One of the most critical pieces of the puzzle in preparing your home is to imagine how it looks (and smells) to your buyer. We all start to look past a number of flaws after living in one place for a long time, but the buyer is looking at your space with fresh eyes.
If you want a fast and successful sale, you want buyers to be excited about the idea of living in your home.
If all they “see” is a pile of things they will have to fix or scrub after they move in, you will begin to lose them.
That’s not to say that you need to remodel any room in your house from top to bottom. Many people dream about customizing and adding their own personal flair to the property. The last thing you want to do is take that joy away from them! However, you do want to fix up any noticeable flaws so they don’t distract your buyer from all the incredible potential your home offers.
Looking for more home-selling resources? Here are some valuable checklists and tips all in one place:
- A Guide to Selling Your Home
- Comprehensive Seller’s Checklist
- Your Seasonal Home Maintenance Checklist
Consider the Market
A successful sale typically begins with a thorough assessment of the real estate market in your area. Knowing how many similar homes are selling and for how much will not just help you decide on a price point; it could also affect what repairs and renovations you perform.
In general, we may be looking at a seller’s market, a buyer’s market, or a balanced market. Each of these scenarios will present some challenges and considerations – but there are also opportunities if you know how to use them to your advantage. A local real estate agent will help you make sense of the latest statistics and how they affect each part of your strategy.
Focus on Cleanliness
Even if you decide to skip all recommended repairs and renovations, there is one thing you can still do that will exponentially increase your chances of selling your home: clean, clean, and then, once you are finished cleaning, clean some more. I am not being facetious here!
You will be surprised that many home sellers don’t even do a quick sweep before a buyer comes through. Imagine how quickly that visitor’s excitement turns to disappointment when they see chaos and clutter everywhere they look.
A pristine house is sometimes all it takes to make a positive first impression. If thorough cleaning and decluttering seems too simple, remember that your primary goal is simply to create a blank canvas for your buyer. Once their imagination takes over, offers could soon be pouring in!
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The Power of Maintenance
Does the thought of preparing your home for sale seem so overwhelming that you don’t know where to start? One of the best things you can do is just focus on everyday maintenance. Fixing minor defects as they arise prevents major, expensive problems for you now and your buyer later. Over time, the value of your house naturally increases.
Loving and taking care of your home regularly makes getting ready for the market much more straightforward. There is no mad rush to fix that broken plumbing or fill in the hole in the wall – because it’s already done.
Your home could be ready for a showing at a moment’s notice and impress any prospective buyer. At the end of the day, what matters is how you present your home, not how much work or stress you put into it. With a commitment to regular maintenance and the right guidance, selling your home can be a joyful experience.
Do you want more selling support? Give me a call at 780.910.1317, email me at jolene@jolenelangelle.com, or fill out the form on this page to get in touch!
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