Just listing your home for sale is not going to the offer you are looking for. This is particularly true these days when most parts of the country are suffering from bad real estate markets. Preparation is the key to success.
There are as many tips on how to prepare your home for listing as there are stars in the sky. Okay, maybe not that many, but you get the idea. Given this assault of information, it can be hard to know what to do. Here is a list of fundamental steps.
Ironically, the initial thing you need to deal with is yourself. If you are going to sell, you must come to grips with the fact this home is no longer your retreat from the world. It is like any other product that must be sold and you have to treat it as such.
Making this adjustment can be very difficult. You must get over it. Your home is now just another real estate property. Your attitude should be to make improvements and such that will be desired by the biggest group of buyers possible.
Along this line of thought, it is time to convert the home to a product. Pack up most of your personalized items. Kids stuff on the refrigerator should go in the moving boxes. Photos on wall and such should as well. Turn it into a product, not your family home.
Now apply the 12 month rule as you walk around the home. What is this rule? If you have not used something in a room for 12 months, it needs to be pitched in the trash, stored away or given away to someone else.
As you walk the house, also evaluate furniture and the like for the comfort classification. Every home has a comfortable couch or piece of furniture that is very comfortable, but not in great shape. Locate yours and get it out of the house.
Buyers are making a big financial decision. Before they hand over hundreds of thousands of dollars, they are going to look at every little niche of your home. If you have personal private items, store them outside of the home.
Now a last step, make sure you do quick improvements to any obvious problems. If you have a few bucks, paint all the trim on the home. This small change can make an absolute world of difference in the overall appearance.
The current market is a tough one for sellers, but homes are selling. Take the necessary steps to get your home buffed out and you should be able to move it. Be positive and you will be surprised how well things can go.