Get your House Market Ready!

There are many things you can do before you list your house for sale. Naturally, you want to get the most money for your home, and investing a little of your time, sweat and equity will give you the best chance to be competitive in today's market. Here are some tips to get you on your way to getting your house market ready!

1. Hire a real estate agent: You want your interests in your sale to be represented, heard and communicated. A real estate agent will help you also navigate through the (seemingly) endless paperwork that needs to be signed. I seek continual education on market statistics, changes in contracts and forms, legislative changes, fair housing rules and updates, local and area specific considerations, and marketing classes. In addition, I have access to houses that sold in your neighborhood, subdivision and general area. Having that information helps us to come up with a price strategy that is sound and supported to move from 'Just Listed' to SOLD in the shortest amount of time. Allow me to be the expert in my field and put my knowledge and experience to work for you!

2. De-clutter your Home: This is probably the most difficult aspect of getting your house ready. You might wonder where to put all your personal belongings, nick-knacks, children's school projects, your own personal book/DVD collection, craft items etc. A good option is to rent a storage box/unit to use until you are ready to move into your new home. Your home will end up appearing bigger, looking organized and drawing attention to your homes features.

3. Hire a handy-man: As we live in homes, things are just bound to break over time. Locks don't lock any more, toilets start running, faucets start dripping, burners and ovens wear out, doors start squeaking, light bulbs burn out, the door bell quit working etc). Fix what you can, and hire a professional for the rest.

4. Paint walls: Painting your home in a neutral color attracts the most buyers. Light gray, light beige or whites are easy on the eye and easy to match with furniture and décor. In addition, a freshly painted house looks brighter and cleaner!

5. Steam clean carpets: Hire a professional company to help with stained carpets. Otherwise, a rental unit from a store can do the trick in clean the fibers and get rid of smells that accumulate over time.

6. Deep-Clean: Now that the walls and carpet are done, deep clean the house. Divide the work load by tackling one room at a time OR by focusing on multiple 'like' areas (like all the floors) to be cleaned together. Remember to clean surfaces, floors, under beds, mirrors, dust, scrub toilets and showers, the fridge, the microwave, closets etc. Again, it helps a lot to go from room to room to be thorough. A special note on closets: Try to limit your wardrobe to your needs for the listing period (about 2 months). Store the rest! Closets very easily appear cluttered and small. Storing a smaller amount will make a huge difference to the overall appearance of storage space.

7. Buy extra Light Bulbs: Having working lights in all the rooms allows your home to 'shine' and show its best. Just one burnt out light bulb can cast shadows, make a room look dark and gloomy and impact the overall atmosphere. REMEMBER to purchase a couple extra light bulbs for the outside as well (front door! as well as back door if you have external light fixtures).

8. Stage your home: Here a real estate agent can be of great value. We have gone to many homes and seen many layouts. Ask for an opinion or a suggestion: Where should I move the couch to? Is the placement of bedroom furniture conducive to look cohesive? Does the room look too small with the placement of the current furniture? Does a room look too cluttered? If in doubt, there are great staging companies to assist.

9. FINALLY: Hire a professional photographer to capture your home's unique features and qualities. Again, they are the professionals and know how to make your home look the best in a picture. If you hire me as your agent, this service is included in your listing at no cost to you!!!