First Steps When Selling Your Home

Posted on January 22, 2021

Selling your home is a big decision. You might be selling because you’re relocating for work or you want to be closer to family. Or, you might just be ready for a change. Maybe you’re even outgrowing your current home.

Whatever the case, when you sit down to think about selling your property, it might feel a little overwhelming at first. You might be asking yourself if it’s the right time to sell, considering property values and the economy. You might also want to wait for a better selling season since winter tends to be slower. Maybe you’re just emotional about the idea of selling, which is understandable.

Eventually, though, you’ll need to decide on whether you want to sell or not. If you do, and you know it’s the right thing, the next step is to get your home sold as quickly as possible.

Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to boost the appeal of your home while making the selling process easier for you.

Understand Your Responsibilities

Before you list your home, it’s important to know what to expect from start to finish. It will be your responsibility to list your home for sale, whether you do it on your own or work with a realtor. Keep in mind that if you sell on your own, your responsibilities increase. You’ll have to do things like:

Scheduling showings
Dealing with potential buyers
Understanding the paperwork/legalities
Closing on your home without the guidance of a professional

While it can be done, it’s often the smarter and safer choice to work with a realtor you can trust. That’s especially true if this is the first time you’ve sold a home.

Your responsibilities also include getting your home ready to list. That includes setting a price. While a realtor can help you with this, too, you should take the time to know what your home is worth. Part of the value will depend on the square footage, which is easy to calculate with a few measurements and a simple formula.

Other factors that should be factored into your home’s value include usable space, location, age, and the condition of the home. Of course, making upgrades and changes can boost the value, too. So, if you want to make more or a profit from your sale, you might consider a few projects before you list it.

Increase Your Home’s Value

What are the best upgrades to make? The most important thing is to make sure your home is in good condition. If there are any obvious repairs you should make, focus on those first. Then you can start looking at projects that will boost its value.

Some of the best upgrades you can make include kitchen remodeling, replacing windows, turning an attic into a bedroom, and replacing your roof. Those might seem like sizable investments, but you will make back your money (and then some) in the home sale.

If you’re not able to make many upgrades, you can still make your home more appealing and sell it at a greater listing price with a few tips and tricks. First, there are things you can do to make your home interior look bigger than it actually is, including:

Painting smaller rooms bright colors
Using multi-functional furniture
Putting up decorative accents
Displaying large artwork
Adding a rug to define your space

You can also make any room in your house more appealing by changing the color or the lighting scheme. Updating your lighting can change the whole “mood” of your house, boosting energy and elevating happiness.

Making your home look clutter-free, bright, and inviting will make it more interesting and appealing to potential buyers, so no matter what your time or budget constraints may be, try to complete one or two projects that will give your property a value boost.

Boost Curb Appeal

You can do project after project to make your home more valuable. But, if no one is interested in looking at it, what’s the point? Thankfully, there are things you can do to attract buyers, whether they’re looking at pictures of your property or just driving through your neighborhood.

Curb appeal isn’t a new concept. Think of it as a first impression; what a potential buyer will see when they first approach the home and start to decide if it’s right for them. If your yard is in bad shape or your home’s exterior needs work, you probably won’t be off to a good start. But, enhancing your curb appeal doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Consider some of the following ideas:

Painting your front door
Planting flowers
Creating a cozy outdoor space
Making sure everything is clean

Think about what you would like to see as you pull up to a house, and put it in place for your listing. Don’t forget to pay attention to the landscaping. Far too often, people focus on the curb appeal of the house itself. While that’s important, remember what’s surrounding the house, too. Clear up any clutter from your yard, trim back trees and bushes, and get rid of weeds. Even cleaning up your landscaping can make a big difference and make it easier for buyers to see your house as a potential home.

By keeping these steps in mind, you can make your home-selling experience easier, less stressful, and more fulfilling. If you’re planning a move, you probably already have plenty on your plate to think about. Thankfully, selling your home can end up being one of the easiest parts of the process.