Strategically preparing your home for sale is a key to success in the real estate market. If you want to attract your ideal buyer, and your ideal purchase price, there is a significant amount of work to be done. For some sellers, this is daunting. Finding time in your busy schedule to tackle the cleaning, staging, and more just might be too much.
To ease the burden and ensure that your home is presented in the best possible light, consider outsourcing certain tasks to professionals who specialize in home preparation. If you are like most Americans, you likely have a significant amount of home equity that can be leveraged to offset some these expense of these outsourced tasks.
Professional Home Cleaning
Don’t underestimate the value of a sparkling clean home. Getting your home as clean as it can be is essential to attract the best offers. If setting aside an entire weekend to deep clean your home isn’t feasible, hire a professional cleaning service to deep clean your home. They can tackle areas that might be challenging for you to clean thoroughly, ensuring that your home looks fresh and immaculate for potential buyers.
Home Staging
Consider hiring a home stager to optimize the layout and decor of your home. A professional stager can strategically arrange furniture, add tasteful decor, and create a welcoming atmosphere that appeals to a wide range of buyers.
While you may be able to stage your home on your own with your current furniture and decor, a professional will be able to accomplish this in a fraction of the time and with the knowledge or current market trends.
Landscaping and Yard Maintenance
Curb appeal is crucial when selling a home. Employ a landscaping service to spruce up your yard, mow the lawn, trim bushes, and add fresh mulch to flower beds. A well-maintained exterior will make a positive first impression on potential buyers.
Photography
High-quality photographs are essential for creating an attractive online listing. “Screen appeal” is the new curb appeal, in a market where the vast majority of your potential buyers will see the photos in your home’s online listing first. Hire a professional real estate photographer who knows how to capture your home’s best angles and showcase its most appealing features.
Home Repairs and Maintenance
Outsource any necessary repairs and maintenance tasks to skilled professionals. Whether it’s fixing plumbing issues, repairing electrical problems, or patching up walls, getting these tasks done professionally ensures they are completed correctly and efficiently, and without the stress of a list of DIY projects to tackle.
Carpet Cleaning or Replacement
If your carpets need attention, consider hiring a professional carpet cleaning service. In some cases, replacing worn-out or heavily stained carpets may be a better option to enhance the overall look of your home. Talk with your real estate agent about the condition of the carpets in your home and whether replacing them or offering a credit at closing might be a good option for you.
Pest Control
The last thing you want to happen during an open house or a showing is the presence or evidence of pests. Address any pest issues in your home by hiring a professional pest control service. Ensuring your home is pest-free will give buyers peace of mind.
Home Warranty
Greg Dallaire of Dallaire Realty in Green Bay Wisconsin talks about the benefits of a home warranty that can be supplied by the seller: The old stats nationwide say that a home with a home warranty is offered, on average, sells two weeks faster and for 2% closer to the asking price. In this crazy seller’s market, maybe those stats aren’t perfectly accurate anymore, but I mean, if everything were equal, I’d much rather buy the home that already has a home warranty in place for me.
Don’t forget that one of the most important keys to success when selling your home is the real estate agent you choose. They will help you price your home correctly, market your home to your ideal buyer, and connect you with local professionals that can support you during the selling process.