Top three considerations to get your property ready to list for sale. 

When you are getting ready to list your home for sale, you may not be sure where to start. Here are the top three things your agent will want you to do to make sure that your home is ready when it is time to list it for sale.

1. Make Needed Repairs

Homeowners often get used to living in a home with wear and tear. However, when you are getting ready to sell, you need to make your home ready for the new owner. If you are not willing to do the repairs chances are neither will the buyer.  How do you determine what needs to be repaired?

First, you can go through your home and make note of what is not working as it should. Look at doorknobs, latches, locks, light switches, garage doors, appliances, leaky faucets, mildewed grout, and more. Be sure to look at the exterior of your home as well. Broken fences, dead grass, or a junky shed can turn off a buyer. Remove the rusty mailbox and secure a fresh new one. A broken doorbell is a real turn off. The front stair railing should be secure and free of rust or freshly painted as appropriate. If you find something that is not in good working order, you should repair or replace it. 

Alternatively, you can have your home pre-inspected. A professional inspector will look over your home and tell you what they find. In this way, you can fix the issues before potential buyers see your home. If you choose this route, don't hesitate to get in touch and we can put you in contact with several companies that can do this for you.

2. Consider Minor Renovations

One of the easiest and cheapest renovations to consider when putting your home up for sale is paint. Pick neutral tones for the walls in order to appeal to the widest selection of buyers. You may not need to paint every room but be sure to paint any room that is dingy or is a focal point for the home.

Another inexpensive renovation is the removal of wallpaper. The choice of a wallpaper pattern is very personal. If a buyer doesn’t like the pattern, they may have a difficult time seeing themselves in the home. Removing the wallpaper helps give the buyer a good first impression.

Other renovations with a good return on investment include:

• Minor kitchen and bathroom renovations- fresh paint, granite countertops, new appliances or vanities

3. Compile Records and Documents

Finally, gather your records and documents. No matter which agent you choose they will need all of the nitty gritty details about your home.

You will need:

• Recent property tax bills

• Survey reports, if applicable

• Restrictive Covenants

• Location Certificate

• Homeowners insurance information

• Lease agreement, if you rent your property

• Rental agreements if you rent any of the equipment in the home like the hot water tank

• Home warranty information

• Appliance warranty information

• Mortgage loan payoff info

• Copy of your most recent Tax Assessment
• Utility costs

If you have other questions…ask us. We are here to help