Selling a home can be a formidable task in and of itself. Throw in an unexpected circumstance and perhaps routine type updates that were ignored and the task compounds.
Don’t panic… take a deep breath and rely on some good ole ‘common sense’. A good asset is a cohort that will be a steady sounding board.
In this market a seller is in the drivers seat… but you still would like to get a decent price for your property. Every property is unique and the focus should simply be to highlight and emphasize the strong points -Period!
In my opinion this is not the time to go crazy with big expensive renovations… let the new homeowner do that if they so choose. There are some basic things that can help a home sell quickly while generating appreciative new owners.
So here is a Basic SIB-KIS (see it big – keep it simple) Plan:
- Make a List… Go room to room listing everything in detail that you think should be changed. Do the same in the garage and outside… yes landscaping, roofing, driveway, etc.. If you are uncertain of what can or should be done seek out a trustworthy friend with some home project experience to help you out.
- Next go to your list and label EACH ITEM …Must Do. Should Do or Nice to Do
- Next lay out a plan to get all Must Do’s taken care of…Note: Must Do’s are only those things that impede normal functioning in a home. … a broken toilet, plugged drains, non functioning light fixtures, etc etc.
- Next take all of your Should Do’s and PRIORITIZE them… 1 being the highest priority. NOTE: In terms of area-priority the kitchen and bathrooms top the list. You do not need to go overboard to make these areas feel fresh and clean and very functional. Smaller but tasteful updates can make a big difference without getting too involved.
- Next formulate your Action Plan…NOTE: Decluttering should be Step One… get some help if you need to… but this is a big deal… It’s huge in showing as well as facilitating any repairs or improvements you may choose to have done.
- Once you have addressed the high priority items on the Should Do List your home should be feeling better… The last BIG item is a Deep Clean…Get some professionals if you need to but this is one that should be diligently attended to!
- Next is Staging… there are folks that have a real gift in this area…I believe that doing it well is important.
- The last big step is your Photo Presence for the web listing. Do your homework to be certain this is Very Professional looking… that online presentation is your only opportunity for that Huge First Impression!!
Hope this helps!
YHPG
