Prepare your house for sale
Plans for six months and one year in advance
By Don Burnham, Realtor
Whether you are thinking of selling this spring or a couple years down the road, the sooner we start preparing your house for sale, the better. Please read on for some of the top things I recommend you do.
Six months from putting your house on the market
If you are thinking of selling your house this spring, here are three things you should be doing right now:
1) Have a professional paint colour consultation. Hire a trusted colour expert whom, for around $150 will meet with you in your home and decide on how to best paint your home for a top dollar sale. You can ask me for a referral or ask at your favourite paint store for a recommendation.
2) Freshen or replace your front door, fence and driveway. Get started on your home’s curb appeal.
3) Start looking for bedspreads, towels and bath curtains that will complement your home.
4) De-clutter and remove or store items that are no longer needed. It will give the home a more roomy feel and allow potential buyers to envision themselves living there. It will also make moving easier in the long run. (I don’t know how to nicely tell people to get rid of personal photos, etc.). Stagers recommend removing one third of the decor in your house including personal photos and collections—this will help potential buyers envision your home as their home-to-be.
5) As spring approaches, plant annuals for colour—baskets or pots on the front porch and in the flowerbeds.
6) Make sure your home maintenance is up to date and get the carpets, porches and gutters cleaned.
One year from putting your house on the market
If you may be selling your home next fall or winter, in addition to the things above, you should:
1) Take photos of your house in the summer. Photos of your garden and yard at their best on a sunny day will make your home stand out from the others on MLS in the winter months.
Also, watch for special times to capture photos, such as sunrise and sunsets, evening photos of the fireplace, the exterior of your house when it’s lit up with lights (times when buyers won’t normally view your home).
2) Take a look at your roof. If it looks dated, check the warranty because it may not be as old as it looks. Perhaps it just some moss growth, which can be taken care of easily (there are some good products, available at home improvement stores, that can be administered with a garden hose sprayer). However, if your roof is near the end of its life, make a few calls for quotes on a new roof. I find this is one cost buyers tend to consistently overestimate and is a good investment for resale.
Lastly, no matter how serious you are about selling, or when you plan to do it, contact me for a free meeting. I will come look at your home and give you more personalized, detailed advice about how to make sure we maximize the sale price of your home. You deserve top dollar for your house, and I can help you get it.
Sincerely,
Don