Getting Your Home Ready to Sell
By Mike Hesselmann, REALTOR® | Realty ONE Group Cornerstone
If you're thinking about selling your house, one of the first questions is usually, "What do I need to do before we list it?"
My answer is usually: probably less than you think.
Before getting into real estate, I spent more than 20 years in construction, remodeling, and home inspections. I've been around a lot of houses over the years, and one thing I've learned is that every house has something. You don't need to make yours perfect before you sell it, and you definitely don't need to start spending money on every little thing you think a buyer might notice.
As your real estate agent, my job isn't to inspect your house. It's to help you look at it from a buyer's perspective, talk through what may be worth addressing before we list, and hopefully keep you from spending money where you don't need to.
Start With the Things You've Stopped Noticing
When you live somewhere every day, you naturally stop noticing certain things. Maybe there's a door that's always been a little hard to close, a loose handrail you've been meaning to tighten, a dripping faucet, or a piece of trim that's been missing long enough that you don't even see it anymore.
A buyer is walking through your house for the first time, so they're going to notice things differently. Taking care of some of those smaller, obvious maintenance items can help the home feel like it's been cared for without requiring a lot of time or money.
The same goes for the outside. Clean up the yard, trim back overgrown landscaping, clear leaves and debris from the gutters, and take a look at the porch, deck, walkways, siding, and other areas buyers will see before they ever come through the front door. It doesn't need to look brand new. You just want it to make a good first impression.
Think About What You Already Know
Most homeowners know their house pretty well. You probably already have a mental list of a few things you've been meaning to get around to.
Maybe the HVAC hasn't been serviced in a while, there's a faucet that occasionally drips, a gutter needs some attention, or there's something else you've simply learned to live with. Those are things I'd rather know about and talk through before we put the house on the market.
That doesn't mean every item needs to be repaired. Depending on what it is, we may decide it makes sense to address it, disclose it, get an opinion from the appropriate professional, or simply take it into consideration when we're preparing and pricing the home.
It's usually much easier to have those conversations ahead of time than when you're under contract with a buyer and working against inspection and negotiation deadlines.
Don't Start Remodeling Just Yet
This is probably one of the biggest things I'd tell someone who's thinking about selling: don't start tearing things out before we talk.
You may hate your countertops. Your bathroom may look like it hasn't changed since 1995. The flooring may not be what you'd choose today. None of that automatically means it needs to be replaced before you sell.
There's a difference between something being dated and something being damaged, not functioning properly, or poorly maintained. Buyers can change paint colors, flooring, countertops, fixtures, and other finishes to fit their own taste. Spending thousands of dollars trying to guess what the next owner will want doesn't always pay off.
Before you put a lot of money into the house, let's look at the property, the neighborhood, comparable sales, and what buyers in your price range are likely to expect. Sometimes an improvement makes sense and can help the home sell. Other times, you're better off keeping that money in your pocket.
Clean and Declutter, But Don't Overthink It
You don't have to make your house look like nobody lives there. You just want buyers to be able to see the home and picture themselves living in it.
Give everything a good cleaning, clear some things off the countertops, organize what you can, replace burned-out light bulbs, and open the blinds to let in some natural light. If closets or storage areas are packed full, thinning them out a little can also help buyers get a better feel for the amount of space the home offers.
This is one of those areas where a little work can make a noticeable difference without costing much money.
What About the Buyer's Inspection?
If your buyer chooses to have a home inspection, their inspector may find things you weren't aware of. That's normal, and it doesn't automatically mean there's something seriously wrong with your house.
My previous experience in construction and home inspections gives me some additional perspective when we're working through this part of a transaction, but my role is still your real estate agent. I'm there to help you understand what the buyer is requesting, what your options are under the contract, and how you want to respond.
If an issue needs to be evaluated, diagnosed, or repaired, that's when we bring in the appropriate qualified professional. You shouldn't feel like you have to figure all of that out on your own.
Every House Has Something
After spending as much time around houses as I have, I can tell you there isn't a perfect one. New houses have things that come up. Older houses have things that come up. Even homes that have been very well maintained will usually have something a buyer or inspector notices.
That's why I don't think sellers should go into the process thinking they need to fix everything before they're ready to call an agent. In fact, I'd rather come over before you've spent a bunch of money trying to get the house ready.
We can walk through it together, talk about what you're thinking, look at the market, and figure out where your time and money are best spent. There may be a handful of things I'd suggest doing before we list, and there may be several things you're worried about that I tell you aren't worth messing with.
The goal isn't to make your house perfect. It's to get it ready for the market in a way that makes sense for your house, your situation, and your plans. And sometimes knowing what not to do is just as valuable as knowing what to do.
Mike Hesselmann, REALTOR®
Realty ONE Group Cornerstone