How to Get Your Home Ready to Sell in 30 Days

As another new year arrives, so should a flurry of homes that have been waiting out the traditionally slow holiday season. If your home is one of them, I hope you took advantage of the last thirty days to get your home ready to sell.

But, if you are just now starting to plan to put your home on the market in 2018, then bank-in thirty days to get it ready for a fickle marketplace where picky buyers are looking for a well priced, well appointed and cared-for home. Here are some tips that I have given some Vienna Virginia home sellers over the years.

Although it is best for me to see your house to put together a list of recommendations that we can talk about, let’s start here.

Here are some smart ideas to help get you started…

• Start thinking like a Home Shopper: Take a look at homes for sale in your community (or where you would really like to live) using the Internet, and carefully take the time to look at the photos. Compare one house to another and consider which one you would buy, if you were buying. They will be setting up alerts and looking at your home online within hours.
• Put together a list of projects: Project lists are never final but you should be able to list ten things that need changing, finishing, or well cleaned.
• The Big Purge: You are not alone in you accumulation of “stuff”, but Home Shoppers don’t want to see the stuff that you haven’t used in the past six months. Box it up, sell it on Craig’s List, rent a storage space or donate it to charity – but let it go.
• Walls and Carpets: Painting may be a priority because 99% of your target market isn’t going to like that tangerine living room or royal blue kitchen. Don’t go with the school of painting everything white… pick up a catalog or magazine and examine how those rooms are painted, my favorite current color ideas, and call a professional painter. Wall to wall carpets need to be professionally cleaned or replaced after painting has been done.
• Update your light fixtures: After you have done this project, you might kick yourself for not doing it a long time ago. Entry foyers, walk-in closets, hallways, bathrooms should all be considered.
• Clean Hardwood Floors: Some hardwood floors may need professional attention, but you should start with cleaning/restoring conditioner found at Lowes or Home Depot.
• Go to the Bathroom: Okay, take a look at your bathrooms. These need to be spotless (free of your stuff) and ultimately look like a mini spa with fresh towels etc. Consider new faucets, shower heads, toilet seats and light fixtures.
• Focus on your Kitchen:
  

  Clean off kitchen counters

  You can’t go wrong improving your kitchen and sometimes a remodel is the only option, but start with an examination of your existing appliances, clean out the fridge (sorry, no old Chinese food containers), and eliminate items on the counters and in the cabinets.

• Light Bulbs: Having the proper bulb in a fixture is essential, so you need to see what is working and replace with the appropriate bulb. Please know that recessed light fixtures need recessed light bulbs called indoor flood lights (no traditional small round bulbs or CFL’s).
• Plan for Curb Appeal: You will need to adjust for the season, but remember that first impressions are made quickly and if there are old newspapers in the driveway, pumpkins in February,  or signs that state “No Trespassin’” then know that you have one strike against you.
• Consult a Real Estate Agent: It is best if you have already signed a listing agreement because the agent will be able to give you many recommendations and then a consultation with a Home Stager for staging ideas. In my business, I like to put together a to-do list first for client’s to complete, and then call in my Stager. I do it that way so she can focus on the design element rather than your piles of laundry.
• Prepare for Photos: Having great real estate photos isn’t an option because those pics will be your first digital open-house!

Understanding how real estate is marketed to today’s home buyers is essential because they start their searching online 90% of the time. In fact, home buyers have probably been watching the market for the last three months and know more about it than you.

Jump here for some of my best 2018 home selling tips.

• Research like a Home Shopper: Doing online research now on your local competition can help you understand values. There is price sensitivity and if your home doesn’t add-up then it is going to sit.
• Mr. Clean Magic Eraser: A clean house is going to sell much more quickly (you have to trust me on this) because most of the homes out there looked well lived-in. The Magic Eraser is an amazing little sponge that you will need to have on hand to make “that spot” disappear.
• Have your HVAC System Serviced: Every buyer I work with knows the HVAC system is essential and wants to know how old it is or if it is in good condition. Having it serviced now can overcome buyer or home inspection issues later. Have the contractor place a new company work sticker on the unit too.

Get working on these projects now, read more about selling your home in 2018, and let me know if you have questions or want me to add tips. Sent me an email at doug@dougfrancis.com and I will add them here or on another blog post.

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Looking for someone to help you?

I can help you with your house too!

Although much of my business is in the Vienna real estate market, I work with clients all over the area in many price ranges. The buyer pool at the high end is obviously smaller but my smart seller strategies remain consistent in all price ranges

For example… I see front door mats on high-priced homes that are in terrible condition every day. Remember, first impressions are critical and a trip to Plow & Hearth isn’t asking too much!

I work with clients in a very hands-on way to help achieve their goals. My experienced eye for changing things that will impact and add value, or helping to select an ideal shade of gray paint that will transform your home are tips that you should expect from me… I know that I would.

Appointments are during daylight hours and last an hour depending on your questions.

I look forward to hearing from you!
doug@dougfrancis.com or (703) 304-6827
 

Read more about why people decide to hire me.