Essential Home Selling Preparations

You Take Before Selling Your Home?

Here are Essential Tips for House SalePreparation

1. Paint It

There is nothing quite like a new coat of paint to renew and rejuvenate a home. Remember to pay attention to the exterior, interior, ceilings, roof as well as perimeter walls and any other structures on the property. Doors, closets, cupboards and other fittings may also benefit from a lick of paint.Be a little circumspect on the color choice and select a scheme that is trendy but conventional. Currently, gray and white combinations are trending for interiors while white is still popular outdoors. If in doubt, stick with neutral colors.It is highly recommended to have the house expertly painted to give it a professional, clean and neatly finished look.

2. Clean, Clear And Refresh

Put on the rubber gloves, grab those brushes, sponges, cloths and detergents and clean the house from top to bottom. Pay special attention to door handles, light switches and electrical outlets as well as curtain rails, trims, blinds and window treatments. It may be a good idea to hire a professional cleaning crew to really clean in every nook and cranny.Clear out the clutter, store personal items and get rid of shabby, broken or old furniture items that just aren't nice to look at. A professional organizer can help to declutter the home. Family photos, children's drawings and other personal items can be packed away in a closet or boxed up for storage to give the home that show-house appeal. Use throws and covers to hide damage to furniture that you just don't want to get rid of.Air out the house and smell out any foul, nasty or musty odors. Deodorize fabrics and upholstery, set air fresheners on a timer or place floral bouquets around the home. Real estate agents swear by vanilla fragrances to turn browsers into buyers.

3. Light It Up

Make sure that every room is well lit and that all the lighting fixtures are operational and switched on for show days. allow as much natural light to flood the house as possible. This may mean trimming back some trees or bushes in the yard or even getting rid of them entirely to turn a dark dank space into an illuminated room.In rooms with small or no windows, hang drapes to create the appearance of windows. Place lamps and lighting fixtures in strategic areas to enhance the illusion of natural light. Mirrors can also be used to reflect and therefore improve lighting in certain areas of the home like dark passageways. Remember to ensure that kitchens and bathrooms are well lit.

4. Repair, Replace And Refit

Walk around the home as if you were a potential buyer and create a snag list of items that are in need of repair, replacement or refitting. These are normally small items that you have been meaning to get around to. If you don't have the time to get everything on your snag list completed by your first show day, get a handyman in to get the job done quickly.

5. Closets, Cupboards Drawers

You can be absolutely certain that potential home buyers will be opening your closets, cupboards drawers. So don't simply shove random items in these storage spaces in an effort to clear and declutter a room but pack and organize these areas just as you would the rest of the home. A professional home organizer can provide the necessary assistance or the items can be boxed up and placed in storage.

6. A Special Touch

There are certain special touches that can be added to a house to create a feeling of luxury and class. Think of what your favorite hotel room or suite looks like and copy some of the decorative elements. Place folded towels next to the bath and a stack of washcloths next to the wash basin. A bowl of fruit as a centerpiece on a dining table or kitchen can also be an attractive feature.Never underestimate the value of freshly cut flower arrangements but don't overdo it. Set out a jar of candy or a plate of freshly baked biscuits for potential buyers. Make an effort to make every stranger feel welcome in your home.

7. Create A Purpose

Empty rooms and spaces are less attractive to home buyers than those that have a purpose. Any room or space in the house that is currently not in use should be assigned a purpose. For example, an empty room can become a study, home office or craft hobby area. A basement can be turned into a play or entertainment area. Place a chair and side table with a stack of books in an empty corner to fill up .Once again, it is important not to overdo it. Leave room for the imagination and allow viewers to think about other purposes for a room or space that will meet their requirements for the ideal home to buy.

8. The Yard

A clean and tidy yard is absolutely essential and adding some landscaping features can be extremely attractive. Plant flowering shrubs and plants that add color and fragrance to the garden. Make sure that hedges and edges are neatly trimmed and weeds have been exterminated. Create paths and walkways to allow visitors to explore the garden. Make sure that large trees are and that there are no branches overhanging the roof, gutters or creating to much shade in the yard. Place a bench in a strategic area to give the best view of the house from the outside. Each of these house sale preparation tips easy to achieve alone and can be even simpler and more effective with some professional assistance.

9. Get Pre-Approved for a Home Loan 

I've known sellers who signed a contract to sell their house before they knew if they were qualified to buy another. Either their financial circumstances had changed since their last purchase, and they could no longer qualify for a loan, or they weren't able to sell at a price that allowed them to buy the type of replacement house they wanted. They ended up renting or buying something that was far from ideal. 

Before you decide to sell the house, get pre-approved by a lender you trust and research the housing market in the area where you wish to live so that you have a good idea how much it will take to buy a replacement. 

How To Start Researching? 

Start looking for two types of real estate: houses that seem to match the one you'd like to buy and houses that are similar to your current home.

How do the two categories compare in price?

Can you handle the difference if you're planning a step up? 

• Find homes in free For Sale publications, often available outside grocery and convenience stores.
• Search the Internet for homes for sale in your area and read real estate ads in your local newspapers. You won't find house locations without making phone calls, but browsing the general market will get you off to a good start.

10. Check Your Mortgage Payoff 

Call your lender to check the payoff for your current home mortgage. You'll need the figure to complete Step 6. 

11. Determine How Much the House Is Worth

• Determine your home's fair market value. Real estate agents will usually help you determine value as a courtesy, but you might take it a step further and order an  

12. Estimate Your Costs to Sell

• Real estate commission if you use an agency to sell. 
• Advertising costs, signs, other fees if you plan to sell by owner.
• Attorney, closing agent and other professional fees. 
• Excise tax for the sale. 
• Prorated costs for your share of annual expenses, such as property taxes, association fees, and fuel tank rentals.
• Any other fees typically paid by the seller in your area (surveys, inspections, etc.). 
• Real estate agents deal with transactions every day and can give you a very close estimate of seller closing costs 

13. Determine Your Costs to Acquire a New Home

Total your costs to acquire a new home: moving expenses, loan costs, downpayment, home inspections, title work policy, paying for a new hazard insurance policy--all expenses related to buying a home. Your lender should give you a disclosure of estimated costs when you apply for pre-approval.

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