In all of our years in the real estate industry, here’s a truth we’ve learned: it’s the proactive homeowner who ends up having the smoothest home sale and, typically, makes the most money.
If you start now, you’ll have plenty of time to prepare your home (and yourself) for the spring market and be among those success stories.
Will you be buying a home when this one sells?
Let’s get a market analysis done now so that we have at least a rough idea of your home’s current market value. Yes, it’s a bit early, but we just need a ballpark figure for you to take to a lender.
He or she can then present options for buying the next home. The worst thing you can do is sell your home before being pre-approved for a loan for your next home, so speak with the lender about what you need to do, financially, to ensure mortgage approval.
Consider a pre-sale home inspection
Having your home professionally inspected before putting it on the market is proactivity on steroids. After all, one of the most common home sale deal-breakers is the home inspection report.
Or, more specifically, issues in the report that the buyer perceives as insurmountable.
Let’s find out now what an inspector will learn with a thorough home inspection. That way, we can discuss the issues and decide which absolutely must be remedied and which don’t. And, since we’re starting so early, you’ll have time to get the work done before the home hits the MLS in spring.
Do what you can to increase curb appeal
Spring officially arrives on March 20 this year so you have plenty of time to get the home ready for the market.
Now is obviously not the right time of year to get out in the garden, mow the lawn or do any of the other tasks required to get the landscaping in shape for a home sale. There are things you can do, however, that don’t necessarily involve gardening.
- Dismantle the mailbox, bring it into the garage and slap some fresh paint on it.
- Shop for a new doormat, larger address numbers, and a porch light fixture.
- Draw out a plan for where you’ll plant pops of color when the weather warms.
- Make a list of early spring chores in the front yard. Clearing debris, trimming hedges and trees, spreading fresh mulch, and whatever else you’ll need to make the exterior of the home more appealing to buyers.
Pre-staging
The present moment is ideal for formulating a strategy for house staging. The job can be completed more quickly with proper pre-staging.
This may involve clearing out personal belongings, conducting a thorough cleaning, putting a new coat of paint, and eliminating excess goods from storage areas such as cabinets, drawers, the pantry, and closets (to make them appear roomier).
Staging is not necessary for many homes, but if it is required for yours, it is one of the most essential components of any marketing campaign.
Again, don’t wait
When the time comes, there are a lot of specifics that go into selling a home, and you’ll want to pay attention to all of them.
In the meantime, it is a good idea to get rid of the tiny things that are distracting you, such as making some minor repairs around the house or performing some cosmetic touch-ups.
The real estate market will pick up in the spring. it won’t be long now. Now is the time to start getting your house ready to sell in the spring.
