Five Tips Before You List Your Home

Before it's time to place that “For Sale” sign on the front lawn, there are many tasks homeowners should complete to make the sale a success. A great first impression is crucial to a potential buyer. You want buyers to fall in love with your property from the minute they walk through the door. So what’s the easiest way to accomplish love at first sight from a potential buyer? We’re sharing a few tips and considerations before you list your home.

Deep Clean

This is probably the most important step you can take before listing your home. Before selling your property, every surface of your home should be spotless. A clean home is especially important when your property is photographed. These photos are an important first impression, so make sure your spaces are clean, decluttered and shining. Be sure to pay close attention to the kitchen and bathroom spaces; these are areas that buyers double-check for cleanliness.

Repaint or Touchup Walls

As a homeowner, you may be used to the small scratches or scuffs on the walls of your home. To a potential buyer though, these small marks are very noticeable. You don’t want potential buyers to be distracted by marks on the wall during a showing, so take the necessary steps to prep the walls before listing your home. Touch-up scuff marks on the walls with paint and make sure the type of paint matches what’s currently on the wall. If you have many marks to cover up, consider starting fresh and applying a full coat of paint to the walls.

Replace Light Bulbs

Properly functioning lighting may seem like a small detail, but many homeowners forget to check for it. When your house is being shown, you want to turn on all the lights, evening in lesser used spaces like closets. Take some time to walk through your home and check that all lights are working. If bulbs need to be replaced, be sure to do so before listing your home.

Stage Your Home

Another helpful option to homeowners is staging your home. Staging a home is when homeowners will move their personal belongings and furniture out of the property. A professional home stager will then bring in new furniture and “stage” your home to look its best. This is particularly helpful when your home has mismatched or worn furniture. You want the property to look its best in photos and during a showing; staging your home can help accomplish that.

Find the Right Realtor

The right real estate professional can walk through your property before you’re ready to list and provide essential feedback. A professional realtor can notice the little details that homeowners may not see and make suggestions before you’re ready to list your property.

If you’re thinking of listing your home for sale, it’s never too early to contact a real estate agent and start asking questions. If you are looking for a real estate agent who knows the Baltimore area and can help you explore your options, I’d love to meet with you. Reach out to me through my website or give me a call at (302) 545-8569, and follow my blog for more home buying tips!