Getting Your Home Ready to Sell

You’ve decided to sell your home. Now what?

Preparing your home to show to prospective buyers can be a lot of work. After all, the goal is to sell it for top dollar, and buyers have high expectations.

The first thing you will want to do when preparing your home for sale is to consult with a realtor. They will have a better understanding of the housing market in your specific area and will be able to provide you specific tips for your home.

Here are some simple tips to get you started:

• Mortgage Pre-Approval: A helpful task before listing your home is to get pre-approved for a mortgage. By doing so, you can look at the estimated profit you can expect from selling your current house to determine what price range you can afford for your next home. Knowing this will reduce stress as you go through the home selling and buying process at the same time.
• Maximize Curb Appeal: The old saying is true: you only get one chance to make a good first impression. Make sure that the outside of your home looks as appealing as possible. Water and mow the lawn, trim the trees, cut back overgrowth and plant colorful flowers in the front and back.
• Clear the Clutter: Having fewer things filling the rooms makes your home look both neater and roomier. It allows buyers to more easily visualize their own furnishings there. Be sure to store bicycles, gardening equipment, and children’s and pet’s toys. Move any cars from the driveway and along the curb in front of your home.
• Give Your Home a Good Cleaning: This can be the most cost-effective thing you do in prepping your home for sale. Potential buyers will want to inspect every part of your home, from the kitchen to the bathrooms to the garage. After removing any clutter, clean the inside of the house from top to bottom. Clean carpets, spotless kitchens and bathrooms, and tidy bedrooms can help make a positive impression.
• Make Your Home Anonymous: Pack away family photos, trophies, collectibles and any other personal items. You want buyers to imagine their families in the house, and that’s hard to do with constant reminders of your family. This process can also help you get ready to move all that stuff to your new home.
• Make Necessary Repairs: Look at your house with a critical eye. The last thing you want potential buyers to see are chipped tiles in the bathroom, a faucet that doesn’t work or burned out bulbs in light fixtures. All systems and appliances should be in good working condition.
• Consider Cosmetic Improvements: Simple, cosmetic touch-ups like painting, adding new light fixtures, and minor landscaping can really help a home show better. When you add a fresh coat of paint, make sure you choose a neutral color. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on these projects to help make your home look its best, but remember that if there are any problems, these must be disclosed to potential buyers whether or not the problems have been remediated. If you have any big projects you’d like to tackle before putting your home on the market, consider a Home Equity Loan or Home Equity Line of Credit to give you some extra cash for your home improvement projects.

If you are ready to start getting your house ready to sell so you can buy a new home, visit our Mortgage Loan Center to learn more about the process. Use our Home Buying Calculators to get a picture of what your home loan will look like. Robins Financial Credit Union offers mortgage loans with competitive rates and quick closings. You can apply for a mortgage loan online or set up your appointment to speak with one of our Mortgage Loan Officers. The mortgage team at Robins Financial Credit Union is ready to help you on your way to your dream house!