Now that you are prepared to sell your home for cash, it is time to arrange the property for sale. One of the most significant things to keep in mind is that you simply get one chance to create a first impression. The time you take initially to prepare your home for sale will prove invaluable once it hits the market. These are important points to keep in mind when preparing to sell your home for cash:
1. Disassociate Yourself from the Home
Once you have decided to sell your home for cash, it’s time for you to remove your personal attachment to the property and think of the sale as a business transaction. Your mindset must change from selling your “home” to selling a house you happen to own and doing what it takes to make it stand out amongst the competition.
2. Select a Realtor to Sell Your Home for Cash
Realtors are continuously pursuing educational opportunities, attending conferences, as well as taking part in local community groups and events in order to become a more seasoned real estate expert to whom you can turn when deciding to acquire or sell your home for cash.
3. Get Your Documents in Order
It’s vital not only to organize your home for sale but to prepare yourself for inquiries that might arise about the property, in addition to, be able to present the required documentation that your attorney, potential buyers, listing agent or will request.
- Go through every paperwork on the property and organize your documents to be complete and readily available, i.e. mortgage satisfaction letter / deed /copies of utility bills, rental agreements, tax bills, etc./utility company contact info/etc.
- Make sure every outstanding city / town permits are closed out and building violations blank.
- Talk to your accountant about the sale of your home with regard to any tax matters you should consider.
4. De-personalize, De-Clutter and Get Organized
Now the real work begins.
When selling a home, you want to make an environment whereby consumers can imagine themselves in the space. Getting rid of as many personal stuff and photographs keep prospective consumers from being preoccupied.
Getting rid of excess furnishings and other items that are not being used everyday creates a living area feel roomier. Start at your front door and go through the whole house donating, packing, and tossing everything in order to make the area feel cleaner. Don’t forget the garage, attic, and basement.
Sort out the closets and kitchen cabinets. Sort items like shoes and clothing together, place things in storage boxes and make hangers facing in the similar direction making the most use for closet space. Set up kitchen cabinets so labels face forward, cans/boxes/jars are in rows, dish ware is precisely stacked and everything appears in its place.
5. Remove Your Movables & Lighten Up!
Take the time now to get rid of whatever stuff you plan to bring with you. This consist of packed boxes, lighting fixtures, window treatments and several other items you do not wish to include in the sale. Doing so will also facilitate in setting the residence for consumers.
Dispose of heavy materials and window covers that make the area feel heavy and dark. Open up the shades and blinds to let the light in from the window available. Bright, sunny areas sell residences. Once the residence is prepared for presentation, keep the doors unlocked to the areas all over the house, with the exception of bathrooms, providing open access and traffic flow.
6. Repair it or Replace it
Walk through the house and create a list of everything that needs to be replaced or repaired.
- Paint rooms to lighten things up.
- Replace old light bulbs and out of date or tarnished light fixtures.
- Replace house numbers with fresh, visible and eye-catching lettering.
- Paint the Front door, garage door and every exterior trim to make the house more inviting.
- Re-caulk/Re-grout tiles in kitchens and baths.
- Fix any broken doors, sliders, locks, drawers and screens to guarantee everything opens easily. A little “WD40” goes a long way.
- Replace broken or outdated fixtures, leaky faucets, and appliances.
7. Make the House Sparkle & Shine – Inside and Out
- Make the front entry inviting by replacing all the welcome mats and clearing cobwebs.
- Dust the furniture and mop the floors.
- Put out fresh bath and kitchen towels, bedspreads and blankets.
- Vacuum and clean all rugs, window coverings, and carpets.
- Wash the windows and don’t forget the window blinds.
- Remember the utility room – clean gas/oil burners and dust free water tanks are a good thing to potential buyers.
- Air out closed spaces and place lightly scented air fresheners all over your home.
8. Consider the Curb Appeal of the Home
- Confirm the lawn is mowed, the snow is plowed and the leaves are raked.
- Plant flowers to make the home more inviting and appealing from the street.
- Be sure the front entry picture perfect with a bench, new mailbox, and lovely planters.
- Trim the hedges and replace overgrown bushes.
9. Final Staging
You are now in the home stretch.
- Organize the furniture making sure pathways are clear and rooms feel roomy and clear.
- Place fresh flower arrangements in the entry and kitchen.
- Pay notice to bathrooms ensuring toilet lids are down and personal toiletries are removed.
- Adjust and align window blinds and shades so they are level and allow light into the rooms.
- Take one last walk through the house and create final adjustments in view of the buyers’ perspective.
Now that the property is ready to show, contact your realtor to make plans for pictures to be taken of the whole property, inside and out.
10. Its Showtime!
- Arrange secure convenient times, including both weekdays & weekends, when the residence can be shown to consumers.
- Make your home accessible for open houses.
- Maintain the cleanliness of the whole property, inside and out