The process of selling a house begins long before you list it on the open market or sell it as-is to a real estate investor. As soon as you start thinking about selling your house, there are steps you’re going to want to take. A mental checklist and process that will help you put your best foot forward in getting what you want. Doing this early on will also give you a chance to check in with yourself and see if you want to go through the entire process of selling on the open market, which can be costly and time-consuming. Whether your house is in disrepair and needs a lot of help or it’s in good condition, here are some important ways to get your house ready to sell in Nebraska.
Ways to Get Your House Ready to Sell:
Research the Market
Before you sell your house, it’s important to know if this is the best time to do so. Start by researching the housing market in your city and neighborhood. Look at comparable homes nearby that recently sold to find out what they were able to get. You won’t be able to find a perfect match but consider square footage, unique features, and the number of rooms in order to make the best guess. This is a great way to determine your home’s value right now. You might find that it’s current value isn’t where you want it to be and it’s better to wait a few months. Or you might find this is a good time to get what you think you can get.
Find an Agent
If you’re going to sell your Nebraska house on the open market, you’re probably going to want to sell it through a real estate agent. You can go the For Sale By Owner route but statistically, you’re likely to get less money and run into more problems. Consider word of mouth and recommendations when finding an agent. Make sure you meet with them and interview them to find out about their experience working in your neighborhood, connection to interested buyers, and their ability to market your house well. They should be able to provide you with a clear plan.
Light It Up
Now is a great time to stock up on light bulbs. As soon as you list your house on the market, there’s a chance someone is going to drive by to take a look. You want to make sure everything is lit up and makes it easy for people to see what they need. And once you start showing your house, you’ll want every lamp, light, and fixture turned on. You don’t want to run into a situation where lights are going out as a potential buyer is looking around.
Cleaning Time
You only get one chance to make a first impression so you need your house to be as presentable as possible. Not only do you need to do a deep clean but you need to consider every potential place inside and outside the house where someone might want to look and clean that too. Before you list the house, make sure the bathrooms and kitchen sparkle, carpets and floors are pristine, and every room is tidy and clear. Hiring professional cleaners to come in and do a good job is a wise idea.
Declutter
Along with cleaning up, you want to make sure your house is as uncluttered as possible. Decluttering and organization will help buyers see the open space that you’re offering. Not only will it look clean but it will give them a chance to mentally fill the space with their own things. They don’t want to see your memorabilia, knick-knacks, and junk. Don’t just stuff everything in the closet, either. Find a good space for it. You can even consider renting storage space to store extra items during the sale.
Hire a Handyperson
Unless you’re an expert, you’re probably not aware of the overall condition of your house. Before you move forward, now’s a good time to have someone come by and give the house a once-over. A reputable contractor or handyperson will let you know what’s broken or outdated and what you’ll need to do to get it up to speed. They can also help you identify smaller issues like leaky faucets, walls cracks, warped doors, and discover if these are easy fixes or symptoms of a bigger problem. Plus, if anything goes wrong during the selling process, you’ll want a good handyman in your phone contacts that you can trust.
Let’s Paint
This is a perfect time to consider giving the house a fresh coat of paint. Even if your interiors don’t seem dirty or outdated, you might want to consider doing it if only to make the house feel more hospitable to buyers. If you have walls with strong or bright colors, consider painting over them with neutral colors. Whites, light grays, and beige colors not only help make the house feel bigger but they give buyers a better chance to visualize the rooms as their own. A fresh coat of paint can also help cover up any dents, cracks, or other small issues that you’d like to remove from view.
Stage the House
There is a lot of research out there to suggest that staging a house helps it not only sell quicker but also for more money. You don’t have to hire a professional if you can’t afford to, although they are sure to do a good job. You can also do it yourself if you’re willing to step outside of your personal tastes and think about how the house could look best for potential buyers. This also goes for outside where curb appeal is hugely important. You don’t want a potential buyer driving past and seeing a messy lawn or dirty exterior. Make sure you’re on top of the landscaping, you’ve removed all of the personal items, and there’s a clean exterior (freshly painted, if possible).
Get Some Pro Photos
A large percentage of buyers look online first when considering homes. That makes photos a critical part of the process and not the kind of thing you just want to wing. Hiring a professional photographer means you’ll get hi-res images that showcase your house in the best possible light (literally and figuratively). A real estate agent should be able to help you if you don’t know someone. They might even have referrals ready for you.
Depersonalize the House
You want buyers to walk into the house and feel welcomed. You don’t want them to walk into the house and feel like they’re intruding on someone’s space. It’s recommended that you remove “yourself” from the house as much as possible. That means taking down most family photos, putting away personal pop culture items, and setting aside any memorabilia and tchotchkes. You should still leave out a few photos so that it feels like a home, but keep it simple and tasteful.