Preparing Your Home to Sell for Top Dollar

Congratulations! You've made the decision to sell your home. You're probably ready to get it on the market and kick back and watch the offers come in. Unfortunately, it's not usually quite that easy. From increasing your curb appeal to cleaning up clutter to choosing the right date to list it, you may have a little bit of work ahead of you, especially if you want your home to reach its full potential. Start with these tips for selling your home for top dollar:

1. Get rid of clutter, and give it a deep cleaning. 

We've all looked at real estate listings before and said to ourselves, "Wow, I wish my house was that clean!" Now is the time to make it happen. Start by getting rid of clutter. Even if you don't think you have any, you probably do. That big stack of books on the end table. The chair that's really too big for the living room space. The appliances that you leave out on the kitchen counter for convenience. The pile of clothes at the foot of the bed. Minimalism is key here. Once you've gotten rid of your clutter, give your home a deep cleaning. That means washing the baseboards, cleaning the carpets, washing all of the windows, and sweeping the debris out of the garage.   

2. Consider a few upgrades and repairs. 

The last thing you may want to do is put money into a home that you're ready to sell, but sometimes it makes good financial sense to complete a few upgrades or repairs. A trusted real estate agent can usually help you decide what's worth fixing and what's not. Some items on the "worth fixing" list might include: 

• Touching up paint or re-painting with neutral colors   
• Fixing or replacing the heating and air
• Patching up any roof leaks
• Replacing a faulty water heater 
• Repairing any problems in your foundation 
• Fixing doors and windows that don't open or close properly 
• Replacing broken door knobs or cabinet fixtures 
• Fixing problems with sub-flooring.  

3. Don't underestimate curb appeal. 

One great way to help you determine what parts of your house need a little extra attention is to walk through as if you are a prospective buyer. What would you notice first? Start from the street. A good first impression is everything. You don't have to go crazy to improve your curb appeal, but a few little steps may help. 

• Consider adding some nice flowers or plants 
• Mulch your existing landscape 
• Give your front door a fresh coat of paint 
• Pressure wash the driveway and any sidewalks 
• Add shutters, window boxes, and other pleasing accessories 
• Replace any outdoor lighting that doesn't work
• Get a new mailbox  

4. Have a plan in place for showings. 

If you're still living in your house when it's on the market, you're going to need to be willing to let potential buyers see it. It's best to always be prepared for this in case someone wants to see the house at the last minute. A few minor daily tasks like making the beds, washing your dishes after you use them, and dusting each day are key. You'll also need to make sure you have a place to go during the showing. Don't forget to include your pets in your disappearing act.

5. Do a little staging. 

You've cleaned, repaired, planted, washed, de-cluttered, and replaced. Now, it's time to work with what you've got to make it a little more appealing. Staging may seem like a waste of time, but you'd be surprised at how much it impresses prospective buyers. Here are some easy tips for staging your home to sell that don't require much effort:  

• Open curtains and blinds and take advantage of natural light 
• Consider adding a vase of fresh flowers to tables or counters 
• Get rid of personalized items, like family photos, so buyer can picture their own families living in the home  
• Light some candles, bake some cookies, dry some clothes — fill your home with pleasant scents 
• Add some fluffy white towels to your bathrooms 
• Add luxurious neutral comforters to your beds 
• Add mirrors to smaller rooms to make them look bigger (usually directly across from a window)  

6. Make sure you understand your local market. 

Now that you're ready to list your home, it's important to understand your local market. Is it currently a buyers' or sellers' market? What are the current pricing trends in your neighborhood? Do homes in your area sell better during certain months or seasons? The answers to these questions and more can help determine how much your home sells for if it sells at all. 

To get more tips for selling your home for top dollar, work with an experienced real estate agent in your area. Realtor Heather Burke was born and raised in Austin and knows how to prepare a home for the market. Contact me today at (512) 434-9004 or [email protected].

Image by Sidekix Media from Unsplash