Putting your home on the market for sale is a big decision. Before you do this, it is best to be prepared. Here are some suggestions for things to do before putting your home on the market:
Order a pre-sale inspection. Your eventual buyer will be ordering an inspection, so it is a good idea to be proactive and do this yourself. This will give you a feel for the issues your house may have, some of which you may not have been previously aware of. Best yet, it gives you an opportunity to pro-actively make the repairs and help avoid any negative impressions that potential buyers may otherwise get. Some important areas that may require work to bring up to current codes include electrical boxes, heating & cooling units, hot water heater, and a whole host of other areas around the house.
Organize and Clean. This is hopefully obvious, but do your best to remove clutter from the house. Focus on your least-used items, and any unnecessary knick-knacks. Also avoid overly personal items that may be a turn-off for buyers. Clean everywhere, including baseboards, appliances, dusting, etc. Include all the areas that you may typically skip in your regular cleanings. Have the carpets cleaned (or better yet – replaced if necessary), and have hardwood floors spiffed up and re-finished if you can afford it.
Get replacement estimates. If you have various big-ticket items that may need to be replaced soon, so ahead and proactively get some estimates for fixing them. It will help to have these on hand when negotiating. Buyers often have a bad feel for the prices of things, and certain repairs may be much cheaper than what they are expecting.
As a side note, some of the largest turnoffs for buyers today include carpet (hardwoods are in), wallpaper, and loud or bold colors.
Gather up your warranties. Again, these will be handy when helping with negotiations. Additionally, buyers will typically request various warranties, and if you have yours on hand this can be a source of cost and time savings for you.
Enhance your curb appeal. After all, curb appeal is the first impression a buyer will have of your house. Get the lawn in shape, and any landscaping or shrubbery pruned and manicured. A fresh coat of paint will go a long way. And certainly make sure any rotten wood is taken care of, such as around window sills and eaves. Repairing rotten wood is a lot cheaper than you may think, and leaving it is a huge turn-of for any buyer.
If you need to sell your house, but don’t want to go through all these hassles that are required when selling to homeowners on the market, call us at 205-390-1050. We buy houses as-is in the Birmingham area. We buy in all areas, conditions, and situations. We have a variety of solutions to fit your situation. You can also go to our sell your house form at http://www.WeBuyBham.com.