What should you do right now if you are thinking about selling your home in 2021?

What should you do right now if you are thinking about selling your home in 2021?

Questions to Ask When Considering Selling these questions will help you decide whether you’re ready for a home that’s larger or in a more desirable location. If the answer is yes to most of the questions, you may be ready to move.

We are truly living in unique times. The coronavirus pandemic has impacted us all, from our families to our first responders, businesses, and our way of life. We hope that you and your families are well and safe during this time. Although there is a vaccination available, and 2 out of every 5 CEOs expect a full recovery in 2021, there are fundamental changes to buyer preferences. We believe that these preferences will continue far past the COVID - 19 crisis and will shape buyer demand going forward. So if you are thinking of selling your home, here are some things you can do now to help your home achieve top value while also allowing it to sell quickly. 

Curb Appeal - The first impression of your home starts when a potential buyer pulls up to your home. Planting colorful flowers, weeding the garden beds, and pressure washing the driveway are easy fixes that will make huge impressions. 

One significant effect that COVID-19 has had on how we think about real estate is how we utilize our outdoor and living space. A home's outdoor living/entertainment space is now the focus of many buyer’s “wish” lists. If your home has ample outdoor space or a large yard, consider adding furniture, a heating element, and string lighting. We have seen this become just as important as a well-decorated interior when trying to fetch the highest value for a home.

Cleaning The Exterior Of The Home - The home's exterior condition builds a big impression on how well the house has been maintained. Cleaning the exterior windows and brushing off any debris accumulated on the exterior will score you major points with creating a great first impression.

Get family and friends involved to help with the cleanup of the exterior. Focus on cleaning around doors and windows and the garage doors. Remove and clean any screen meshes that have mildew or staining.

Declutter Living Areas - When a potential buyer enters the home, their main objective is to envision their life there. Removing clutter from the main living areas will help them see the house and visualize the space more freely. Many buyers are now working from home in some capacity, prioritizing having a dedicated workspace or home office to the top of many buyer’s “must-have” list.

Consider setting up a dedicated workspace if you have an extra bedroom or guest bedroom. Many buyers searching for a home office will also consider using an additional bedroom as their workspace. Organization and sufficient lighting will help visualize an extra bedroom as a workspace.

Quick Touch-Ups - Fix any loose handles and squeaky doors. It's a small thing, but you'd be surprised how much of an impression it can make. Replace interior and exterior burned-out light bulbs and air filters. Touching up scuff marks on the walls and vacuuming the baseboards where dust tends to settle will help make positive impressions on the buyer. 

Lubricating squeaky doors, cleaning ceiling fans, and dirty AC vents are among the most common and cost-effective ways to show that the home has been well maintained. 

The goal is to help the potential buyer know the home has been well cared for by the previous owners and limit their concerns of having a surprise issue during the inspection.

If you have any questions about the real estate market, or buying / selling a home, please feel free to call or text us at 407.268.0046.