5 Things to Actually Consider Before Putting Your Home on the Market

• Where will you go? This may seem like a duh moment, but many people want to move but are not sure where to go. I suggest carefully thinking about where you want to end up and why. Do you want a smaller home, bigger home, more land, less land, what area? If you could magically create your next dream home, what would it look and be like? What aspects of your new home are most important to you? Is it possible for you to create any of those qualities that you’re dreaming of in your current home and set the stage for what is to come? Spending time imagining the possibilities of your new home will help bring it to life!
  
  
• Learn the Process. If it’s been a while since you thought about residential real estate, taking some time to learn a little bit about the process of selling your home is a helpful idea. I suggest watching some Youtube videos or reading a bit online about what to expect during your sale process. This is not about becoming an expert, it is about feeling comfortable and confident enough to create a successful experience. Interview a few agents/brokers and hire someone to help you that you resonate with and feel you can trust because you’ll be spending quite a bit of time together. Extra points for hiring Stacey and me. If you have a great real estate agent (that would be I, hehe, but seriously) they should be very ready and willing to guide you through the ins and outs of home sales. Still, getting a head start and educating yourself about the overall process is important for preparing the right mental state to succeed.
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• Declutter. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote 5 Tips for Spring Decluttering, which is a great little post about, well, decluttering. If you don’t have time to check that out, let me paraphrase here by saying that homes with lots of clutter and stuff do not show well, which means they are ultimately harder to sell. If you’re truly wanting to get your home listed and on the market, you can get a head start by going through the rooms and getting rid of what you no longer need and/or want. Eventually, you’re going to have to pack up all of your belongings to move anyway, so why not make the whole process more enjoyable by doing what you can before you’re under the pressure of deadlines? Also, by giving yourself extra time, you can thoughtfully dispose of your old items by donating or selling them.

• Prepare to do some improvements. Even if you think your home is perfect, there are most likely going to be some improvements you’ll need to make to benefit as much as possible from the sale (read: profit). At our agency, Valnes and Company, we are known for preparing homes for sale with our magnificent makeovers, but you can also get a head start on preparing by going through your home and fixing what may be broken, such as clogged pipes, missing grout, leaky faucets, etc. That good ol’ handyman list you’ve been compiling over the years is now ready to be executed! Do all the things you would expect someone to do for you if you were buying their house and your rewards will be more than monetary.
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• Set the stage. In other words, plan to stage your home. This is not something you will be expected to do yourself by any means and all homes have different needs in this category. Some need more help and some need less. Suggesting staging is also not a personal affront to your decorating style. The thing is, most homes are not lived in the same way that they are best shown in and that’s okay! In fact, it’s totally normal. However, many homeowners balk at staging because of the cost and overlook the fact that staging is an investment, rather than just a useless expenditure, because good staging will help sell your home for more money. And good Realtors know this, which is why we push this third-party service. A great example of this concept is the model home. Have you ever visited a planned housing development and looked at the model homes? These homes are beautifully decorated in a way that is stylish and on-trend, but not personal, which allows for almost everyone who sees the home to easily visualize themselves living there. When we as real estate agents list a property for sale, we like to create that model-home feeling. A space where people feel comfortable and can see themselves living. I love family portraits and my kid’s artwork (along with my blue walls and Grateful Dead art) as much as the next mom, however, I would take them all down (and repaint the walls) if I decided to sell my home because I know that it takes away from the potential buyer’s experience. Good staging is an asset, so if you’re feeling uncomfortable about it, do a bit of research yourself and learn the benefits.

As we move through 2021, I believe we will continue to see a lucrative market for real estate, so I hope this list helps if you’re thinking about selling. Have more questions or considerations to explore? Give us a call, we are here to help!