Important Things To Do Before Your Home Is Put on the Market

Facebook now has its own Marketplace. Simply post a few pictures of anything from a piece of furniture to a bottle of water (it’s happened), and you can sell the item. Unfortunately, the housing market takes a little more prep work and a lot more paperwork than Facebook Marketplace. But all the important things to do before your home is put on the market aren’t impossible. Here are three of them to get you started.

Find a Realtor

A lot of people believe the myth that selling your house yourself is a guaranteed way of maximizing profits. But the fact of the matter is that selling a house takes a certain level of knowledge and expertise. You have to know the market, be able to stage and market the home, and be able to negotiate sales. All these things will cost you money whether you have a realtor or not. However, a realtor will be able to do these things well and quickly. And speed is of the essence, since houses that sit on the market longer tend to sell for less money.

Have an Inspection

Another effort realtors spearhead is ordering inspections of the home. This includes structural aspects such as foundation, plumbing, roofing, electrical, and heating, but it also includes inspections for issues such as pests and mold. These issues especially need to be resolved before the house goes on the market if you don’t want your home’s property value to take a hit. After inspections, you will have to decide whether to take care of issues yourself or contact a professional. For example, smaller mold issues that aren’t bothering your health too much can be cleaned up carefully, but more serious issues are best left to professionals. Otherwise, you could end up jeopardizing your own health and safety, not to mention take longer to get your house on the market.

Declutter

When we talk about decluttering, we aren’t talking about picking up your bedroom or doing the dishes. Through the years, a house can accumulate a lot of stuff that gets crammed into the backs of closets or piled up in cupboards. You may not notice it, but people entering your home will. It pays to take time to go through all the nooks and crannies of your home. Consider putting some of the old things in storage or donating them—this will make packing up the house when it’s time to move easier.

But decluttering isn’t just about the nooks and crannies. Buyers need to be able to visualize themselves living in the space when they walk in. If there’s a lot of music posters on the wall, kids’ artwork plastered on the fridge, or distractingly unique furniture pieces in the living room, they may work against you in a showing. Get your décor as neutral as possible before your home is put on the market and save your mint-condition autographed Stevie Nicks poster for the new house.