North Texas’ pre-existing inventory of homes is the lowest that it’s been in months and prices are stronger than they’ve been in years. Now is an attractive time to upsize, downsize, move closer to work, into a new school district, or otherwise sell your home. But simply listing your home doesn’t necessarily mean home a quick sale, especially if your home looks… well… lived in. To make sure your property makes a buyer’s short list, you’ll likely need to invest some elbow grease so your home shines above the rest.
Declutter. If you’re serious about selling your home, start cleaning out closets and packing now. When you get a contract, you’ll have about a month, maybe six weeks, to pack up. Though a month may seem like a lot of time now, cleaning out and packing will inevitably be a daunting task when the time comes. Decluttering also will make your home show better because counters, closets and storage spaces will seem more spacious. As a result your home will show better.
If you have any fixtures or window treatments you plan to take with you, take them down and replace them. When a buyer purchases your home, they’ll expect everything attached to the home to be included in the sale. Your Realtor can list exclusions in the MLS database, but if you really want to keep an heirloom light fixture, high-tech showerhead or designer draperies, pack them away before you even put your home on the market.
The decluttering stage would be a good time to host a garage sale. Click here to request a free copy of my “Clearing out the Clutter,” a comprehensive guide to hosting a successful garage sale. My guide offers up proven tips and tactics for making money and ditching your junk so you don’t have to move it.
After you’ve unloaded your junk, pack up everything except for the essentials. When you have a showing, you’ll have less to pick up, and when it comes time to move, you’ll have one major chore already crossed off of your to-do list.
Clean. A clean home shows better than a dirty home. The perception is that a dirty home needs work, while a clean, “move-in ready” home represents a better value. I’ve had buyers walk out of homes that otherwise meet their needs just because they were dirty.
A little elbow grease can prevent that buyer about face. On top of your routine cleaning, make sure you pay attention to these often overlooked areas:
- Corners, floor to ceiling inside and out
- Tile grout
- Ceiling fans and light fixtures
- Faceplates
- Baseboards
- Underneath and behind furniture
- Cabinets and drawers, inside and out
- Oven, microwave and other build-in appliances.
- Stair banisters, top to bottom
- Windows, inside and out
- Doors and door frames
- Window blinds and other window coverings, including curtain rods
- Mirrors
- Shelves
- Garage floor - sweep, mop and degrease.
- Drains, clean out and deodorize
- Porches, patios and balconies, sweep and mop
- Exterior brick and siding
- HVAC filters
Also have your carpets professionally cleaned, especially if you have pets. If your carpet has pet odors that aren’t neutralized with a good cleaning, you may have to consider new carpet. Your Realtor can advise you about your options here.
Repair. If you get an offer on your home, you’ll likely be given a list of items that the prospective buyer would like for you to fix as part of the deal. Frequently these requests come after a buyer has had the home inspected.
The list could include big ticket items such as the roof or foundation. You should already know whether you have problems there. Your Realtor can offer advice on how to deal with these kinds of problems.
The buyer’s list of requests likely will include anything that is obviously broken or in need of repair. Frequently the prospective buyer will ask you to have the problems “professionally repaired,” and you’ll have to show receipts proving that they were fixed. To save time and money later, fix those problems beforehand, especially if you can do it yourself.
Other problems aren’t as obvious. While you’re deep cleaning, you’ll likely find some small things that need repair. During your deep clean, make a list of those things so you can come back to them later. Here are some things to look for:
- Burned out light bulbs
- Broken or cracked face plates
- Cracks in corners and seams in the Sheetrock and back splashes
- Chipped, cracked or loose tile
- Loose carpet and other flooring
- Dripping faucets
- Running toilets
- Nail holes
- Drafty windows and doors
Many of these things require nothing more than bead of calk, a bit of adhesive or an inexpensive part from the hardware store. While they might be small things to you, they could very well end up on the buyer’s list of requested repairs too. But even if they don’t, a well maintained home stands out among the competition.
Paint. A fresh coat of paint makes any home feel fresh and clean. If possible, paint inside and out. If that’s not feasible, repaint any wall that’s been patched, has a lot of nail holes, can’t be cleaned or otherwise in obvious need of help.
Also paint over colors that are dated or faded or are TOO custom. Recently, I toured a home with a shocking green laundry room that matched nothing else in the house. Unless the homeowner repaints, they’ll have a very limited pool of buyers. The same can be said for children’s rooms painted in pinks and blues and purples. To make your home more appealing to the largest number of buyers, Consider neutral or earth tone colors that highlight flooring, counter tops or other features in your home.
Investing a little time and money before listing your home could mean a quick, top-dollar pay off after the sign goes in your yard.
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