PREPARING TO SELL
Prepare Your Home.
Once you’ve decided to put your home on the market, it is important to take a close look at it from the viewpoint of a prospective buyer. Objectively evaluating each area and then making your home “show-ready” can have a major pay-off in terms of offers it will attract and how soon those offers come in.
Curb Appeal.
Keeping your landscape pristine, and adding creative touches to your yard, such as colorful annuals, will create an immediate impact on passers-by and potential buyers. Scraping and Painting any peeling paint or replacing damaged front doors or windows can make a dramatic difference as well. We will provide recommendations based on your specific property.
Property Repairs and Upgrades.
You know all those projects that have been on the back burner? Many homeowners decide to complete those before having a Realtor out to the property. The problem that we encounter all too often is that the homeowner ends up spending money on projects they have wanted to do but may not necessarily help to increase the value of their home or sell it. Your agent knows what sells in the current market conditions. Click Here for a general list of simple items you can consider as you prepare your home for the market.
Cleanliness.
Our number one recommendation is that you have your home professionally cleaned. Think ‘Spring Clean.’ This includes baseboards, light fixtures, windows (inside and out), tile grout, grease buildup in kitchen, inside and out of cabinets, deep clean appliances (inside and out), cobwebs, etc. Keep your property uncluttered and well-lit from top-to-bottom for showings. Pay attention to details: put away the kitty litter, place a vase of fresh flowers near the entryway, have your carpets cleaned, pop a batch of cinnamon rolls or cookies in the oven before the showing – just remember to take them out before the showing. Your agent will assist you with coming up with a plan for your specific property.
Packing.
Packing? Before your home is sold? Yes, we suggest packing roughly half of your belongings before your home goes on the market. This will help declutter the home in preparation for photos and marketing. Removing yourself from the space helps buyers envision themselves living in the home, and when buyers emotionally connect with a home that can mean more money in your pocket. Work with your agent for specific suggestions on areas to focus on. Just think what a relief it will be to have half the job done before it’s really crunch time.
Staging.
Most of us have seen the HGTV shows that show how much staging can impact the sale of a home. The basic premise of home staging is to create a space devoid of personalization. The space needs to be attractive to the majority of people and not have a specific taste or style represented. How we ‘live’ in a home is very different than how we ‘sell’ a home. Working with our team of professionals, your home will be transformed into a place that buyer’s can imagine themselves living in.
Disclosures and Inspections.
Illinois law requires a Seller’s and Radon Disclosure, as well as a Lead Base Paint Disclosure if your property was built prior to 1978. Disclosing current issues or defects with your property will protect both you and the buyer of your home. After the home inspection is complete, our team is available to review the buyer inspection requests to help determine what items to repair and/or provide credit for. Our team’s construction background is a valuable asset to our seller clients and proves to be a benefit of our team throughout the selling process.