When you decide that you want to put your home on the real estate market and sell it, it can be overwhelming to start the process. Often, people go through the home-selling and the home-buying process at the same time, making it even more stressful. Here are 5 steps to take before listing your home to get your home ready to sell this spring.
Order a Pre-Listing Inspection
You’ll have a better chance at selling your home easily if you know the true condition of all its components. Order a pre-listing inspection, which is the same service as a full home inspection. A pre-listing inspection is for the seller to learn about any issues that would come up in the buyer’s inspection if no repairs were made before listing it. Certain problems could prompt lengthy negotiations or even scare away a buyer. Your inspection report will help you prioritize what to fix before listing the home.
Address Serious Issues to Get Your Home Ready to Sell
A new homeowner doesn’t want to be faced with thousands of dollars in repairs upon moving into a new home. If you have serious issues like a failing roof or foundation, extensive termite damage, or a mold infestation, you’re going to face problems when trying to sell your home. You’ll either need to shell out the money to fix the defects or significantly lower the price to account for the repairs the new homeowner will need to make.
Fix Minor Cosmetic Flaws
Minor cosmetic flaws won’t cause a buyer to back out of a deal, but your home will be more appealing without them. Buyers make assumptions as they tour the home and if there are details that suggest carelessness or lack of maintenance, they may not pursue buying the house. Make easy repairs yourself like replacing broken outlet covers, touching up paint, and fixing torn screens.
Set Your Asking Price
Setting a fair and correct asking price that reflects the home’s value and the condition is one of the most important steps in listing your home. Your agent is a valuable asset in setting an asking price. Refer to prices of comparable houses in your area and your pre-listing inspection report.
Get Your Home Ready to Sell With Curb Appeal
Buyers don’t just look at the house, they evaluate the property and yard also. Many sellers wait until spring to list their home because there will be more greenery on the property, making it more attractive. Plants can grow quickly come spring, so prune shrubs and bushes back so the property doesn’t look overgrown. Paint the front door and mailbox as a finishing touch.
District Home Pro provides pre-listing home inspections for sellers to the entire Washington, DC Metro area. Contact us to request our services.
