9 Steps To Selling A House

Check out these steps to selling a house! It’s a hot market and you want your home to stand out and get sold quickly!

Having spent a lot of time viewing homes for sale, I’ve got a pretty good idea of what does and doesn’t work when trying to sell your home. First impressions can make or break a showing, so you must put forth the effort to make your home visually appealing to potential buyers.

A little extra time and attention go a long way in helping you sell your home quickly and at the best price. With the very low interest rates – there are many buyers looking for the perfect home!  These steps are helpful if you are selling with or without a realtor.

Here are the best steps to selling a house and making it attractive to buyers.

Get it clean and keep it clean

A dirty house is a major turn off for buyers. Not only does it affect how they view the home, but they’ll also have little faith that the home has actually been cared for. Do a deep cleaning everywhere and then keep it sparkling clean from listing to close.

Get rid of the clutter

Most buyers want to see homes in a move-in ready condition and want to be able to visualize living there with their things; it’s more difficult if you have a lot of your personal belongings lying around. It’s always a good idea to get home photos taken after you have de-cluttered. Some people will opt to put their personal belongings in storage while on the market, but it’s not always necessary.

If you really want your home to ‘pop’ at showing consider working with a staging professional. According to the National Association of Realtors, a staged home can sell for up to 17% more than one that isn’t staged.

Fix whatever is visibly broken

At a minimum, you should make small repairs throughout the house; update any hardware, apply a fresh coat of paint throughout and clean or shine your floors. Consider taking it a step further and identify early on what type of repair items could come up by getting a home inspection yourself.

A little work ahead of time can have a big impact on your home’s value. Work with a realtor and inspector to determine your best course of action and understand those items that should be repaired or upgraded.

Eliminate all odors

Pet smells are a big no-no, but so are cigarettes, incense, strong chemicals, and other pungent odors. Even if someone loves animals, they won’t be interested in purchasing a home that smells bad. They’ll immediately imagine having to replace flooring and more.

Others are sensitive to strong odors and will not take the time to truly look at the house if the smell is intrusive. You may want to consider keeping pets out of sight during showings.

Update your lighting

During the day, people want to see bright natural light throughout the home. At night, a little ambiance can add to the appeal of a home. Evaluate the lighting in every space and make updates wherever necessary. This is one of those areas that are well worth with investment.

Upgrade your appliances

Appliances will play a role in selling your home. These days many homes come with new or upgraded appliances. Although these come with a hefty price tag, it usually pays off in the end. If you decide not to install new appliances, these must be thoroughly cleaned.

Beautify the exterior

First impressions are incredibly important so pay particular attention to what people will see when they first pull up and when they first walk in the door.  Anyone selling their home should make the outside as appealing as possible. It’s the first thing a potential buyer will notice when they pull up.

Clear the walkways, manicure the lawn and make sure everything is tidy, clean, and put together. Add a pop of color with flowers, a beautiful welcome mat, and an elegant front door.

Leave the premises

Occasionally sellers will want to be there during a showing appointment, but I advise against it. You want the buyers to feel comfortable taking a good look at your home and talking openly and honestly with their realtor about it. Your presence alone is likely to make a potential buyer uncomfortable no matter how well you think you can ‘sell’ the house.

For homes with smaller spaces, there are plenty of things you can do to make rooms appear larger. Most realtors will tell you that kitchens and bathrooms will sell a home if you have to choose what to repair or update I’d start with those two rooms.

Add a Home Warranty Plan From HomeMembeship for added Peace of Mind For The Buyers

HomeMemership is kind of like a roadside assistance program for your car – but it protects your home. With a HomeMemership plan you will give your buyer peace of mind knowing that if a home appliance breaks or major system stops working, they would have one convenient number to call and one of our specialized, pre-vetted professionals will be on their way to repair or replace your covered item.

HomeMembership does warranties differently by making sure you understand what is and isn’t covered before you buy. Our built-in Q&A capacity during the checkout process helps make this promise a reality, and customizable plan options allow you to choose coverage that best fits your needs.

Plus it includes Members-Only Discounts towards home services, retail shops and more. From lawn care to interior decorators and carpet cleaners, our warranty offers immediate benefits that go beyond standard long-term protection. Your membership gets you discounts from local businesses on services for your home so you can save money now and later.

Add a HomeMemership Plan to give your buyer peace of mind in case anything breaks in their new home.

If you follow these steps to selling a house, you’ll have a much better chance of getting a great offer on your home.

Since you are selling your house, you will also need to know, How To Manage The Stress Of Buying A New Home. And you should also learn more about What You Need to Know About Your Home Inspection. With these 9 steps to selling a house – you should sell your home fast at the price you want!