Selling your home in the spring doesn’t mean you have to actually wait until spring to prepare your home for a sale. For the past year now, the Metro DC area has experienced low inventory and high buyer demand. We expect this demand to continue but we also anticipate many more homes to appear on the market in the warmer months. Below are things you can do now to improve the odds that your home will stand out among the sea of new listings flooding the springtime real estate market.
Renovate what’s outdated.
Not sure where to begin? The key rooms to focus on are kitchen and bathroom. If they scream 1980s and may give buyers flashbacks, they should be updated before you sell.
But instead of going big, think small with renovations.
Rather than replace the kitchen cabinets, just replace the hardware, doors or repaint the cabinets instead. And when it comes to the bathroom, updating fixtures like bath faucets, towel racks and cabinet handles can say a lot about your sense of style. Plus a simple bath tub reglaze can make it look as good as new.
Rather than replace kitchen cabinets, replace the doors or repaint the cabinets.
Fix anything that’s broken
As the current homeowner you know there are things that just need to get done. But you might also consider getting your home pre-inspected so you know everything that’s wrong and repair it accordingly. After all, any home buyer who makes an offer will likely get your home inspected and home inspectors scrutinize about 1,600 features from the foundation to electrical and beyond.
Repairs take time so it’s smart to get these things rolling now so your home is in great shape by spring.
Replace non-working lightbulbs
This is an easy one that’s often overlooked. Make sure all your lightbulbs are operable http://windhampharmacy.com/ to show your home in its best light. For example, there might be a chandelier where one or two bulbs are out, and you don’t really notice it. Go around and check all your lamps and light fixtures and make sure that all your bulbs are working. It goes a long way in showing the pride you have for your home.
Paint with whites and neutrals.
A new coat of paint is a relatively cheap and easy way to give an instant facelift to your house. If the colors currently on your walls aren’t all that flattering, now’s your chance to make it right. Generally, the best paint colors to pick are neutrals, whites and grays. Anything more vivid might appeal to a few buyers but not a wide range. You can use pops of color like bright yellow pillows, when staging your home.
Organize paperwork
Having all your paperwork together for potential buyers will help speed the process of the sale along and allow them to address any questions with you before the deal is finalized. Any manuals, warranties, and receipts for the equipment in your home will be very important for your buyers to understand and keep for their records.
Permits and receipts from any renovations or repairs you have completed on your home are also important to include. Copies of recent utility bills and property tax forms can also be very helpful so they know what to expect before they move in. This offers full disclosure to your buyers and will ensure you both feel comfortable going forward with the sale.
Call the Jennifer Young Homes Team
If you are considering selling your home this Spring, now is the time to meet with your realtor and start preparing your home. We will walk through the home with you to determine the things you can do to prepare your home for sale. We provide home staging when needed and a professional photographer once the home is ready for sale.
Our team represents buyers and sellers in all price ranges and our goal is to get you the most money for your home. Call us today at 703-651-5655!
Source: Forbes, TheBalance.com
