Checklist and Useful Tips to Prepare Your Home to Sell
The ability to sell a home quickly begins long before the house is listed for sale. You will want to present your home in the best possible light. Give plenty of time to do maintenance and repairs before it is put on the real estate market. This list was designed to help sellers prepare for the real estate inspection of a potential buyer. Most reputable inspection companies will make a thorough inspection of your property, therefore it is wise to have the property in the best condition possible. Many small problems or deferred maintenance will lead the inspector to believe the property is not well maintained. This could also result in a lower contract offer!
ROOF / EXTERIOR
Repair any known roof leaks and the damage from such.
Gutters and downspouts should be free of debris with splash blocks in place.
FOUNDATION / EXTERIOR
Grading around the foundation should have a positive slope away from the building. Flat or low areas around foundations can be the source of leaking basements.
Area-ways should be free of debris and drains should be clear.
STRUCTURE / EXTERIOR
Window and door caulking should be whole and in place. Broken window pane glass should be replaced.
Wood trim and siding should have a good coat of paint or stain. Blistering and peeling paint will leave wood exposed to the elements which promotes deterioration.
Wood work should not come in contact with the ground. This situation will result in rot and deterioration.
HEAT / AIR CONDITIONING
Provide service records and appliance manuals, if possible, to show that the equipment has been maintained.
Replace or clean the furnace blower fan filters.
ELECTRICAL
Switches and receptacles should have cover plates in place. Ceiling junction boxes should be covered. Exposed wire ends or connections are dangerous and indicate unprofessional installation.
Here are some other useful tips:
Frequently the best-spent money is on house paint. A fresh coat of paint can make your property appear cleaner and better maintained. Be certain to clean up and remove any mold or water-stained areas that appear suspicious, especially before painting. Dollar for dollar, this could decrease the amount of time your home remains on the market.
Create an inviting entrance to the home. If you can't afford to address the entire exterior of the house, do freshen up the entrance area or the front door with a fresh coat of paint. Display some potted plants or hang a seasonal wreath on the door. Weed the garden beds near the entrance and have a freshly mowed lawn.
Reduce clutter! A buyer wants to envision the home's potential so it helps to make the house appear spacious. A yard sale is often a great idea or, even better yet, try eBay. There is a tremendous audience on eBay and often items that are seemingly worthless will sell. The results can be surprising! Start this process early on and you may make some extra spending money for house repairs. Donate items that are too large to ship or have little value to the local Goodwill or Salvation Army. Some charities accept donations and will even pick-up your items and provide a receipt for tax deduction. If it is junk, then either recycle or take it to the local landfill.
A final consideration:
In a competitive real estate market, you will want to gain an advantage over the other home sellers on the market. A prudent seller will hire a home inspector to perform a ‘pre-sale inspection’ to help prioritize the needed repairs. This could avoid unnecessary expenses. Often a pre-inspected home will sell quicker, especially when the repairs were made, and the prospective buyer can see that every effort was made in advance to prepare the home for the new occupants.
