Are you thinking of selling your Asheville home? There are so many opinions on the best ways to get your house ready for sale. Opinions are like… weeds! They pop up everywhere without waiting for an invitation. Don’t get lost in a jungle of conflicting information! Just follow these easy steps to get your home ready for market.
Do your homework
If you’re going to ask a good price for your home, you need to know what it is worth. Start with Realtor.com and take a look at comparable sales in your neighborhood. Be sure to note square footage and special features. You want to be sure you’re comparing similar homes. Just because a huge house at the end of the block sold for $750,000, don’t assume your home will if it’s a lot smaller. If you’re confused by the comps you find, enlist the services of a realtor.
Get yourself a listing agent
If you’re selling your Asheville home, you need to find a realtor, but not just any realtor. You want a listing agent who is well connected to buyers in your neighborhood and social media savvy. Ask about their plan to sell your home. They need to do more than just hang a sign in the front yard. Find out what they intend to do. Not sure what to look for in a realtor? Click here to learn more.
Let there be light!
Your home should be a bright and cheerful place – especially when showing it to potential buyers. Be sure all the bulbs in your home are working, and turn them all on. Open all blinds and curtains. You want your buyers to see the light!
Cleanliness is a virtue
You’re going to have all those lights on and natural light streaming in, so be sure your home looks pristine. Smells, dirt, and dust must be banished. Clean the toilets, mop the tiles, vacuum the rugs – shampoo them, if necessary. You may need to call in a professional. Ask your realtor for referrals to a reputable company for carpet cleaning. Once you get it squeaky clean, keep it that way. Your realtor might call on short notice, and you need to be ready.
The handyman can
Get to know a good handyman before putting your house on the market. Take care of every little thing that needs fixing, such as squeaky doors, loose or worn-out locks, broken appliances (fix these before the home inspector notices them), wall cracks, running toilets, damaged door stops, rattling exhaust fans and more. Ask a friend to help you pinpoint these things. If that bathroom fan has been rattling for a long time, you probably don’t notice it any more. Bottom line: if your house looks well-maintained, buyers will have more confidence about their purchase.
Lose the clutter
Photo by Jessica Kessler on Unsplash
You may love all that junk you’ve accumulated throughout the years, but guess what? Buyers don’t like it. It’s a real turn-off.
You want buyers to see the home itself, not all the little figurines, sports memorabilia, old bowling trophies, and closets so packed they could be the wardrobe department of a major movie studio. You need to get that all packed away.
Rent a storage unit, if you can’t bear to throw all that stuff away, but know that you’ll just be kicking the can down the road. Don’t know where to begin? Ask your realtor about professional organizers who can help you pare down. Click here for some ideas about decluttering your home.
Neutral colors rule!
That room you painted royal purple a few years back has to go. It’s time to give the whole interior a fresh coat of paint. Go with tried-and-true neutral colors to present a blank slate to buyers – whites, off-whites, light beige, or very light gray. In addition to covering imperfections, these neutral shades will make your home seem bigger and brighter.
Set the stage
Real estate industry studies show that staging a home can bring more money and a quicker sale. If you want to get fancy, your realtor can recommend a professional home stager. While you’re at it, polish up your home’s curb appeal. Keep the lawn neatly trimmed, the landscaping crisp and fresh, and the yard free of clutter. Also, now is the time to decide if your home’s exterior needs a new coat of paint. Get more information about staging your home by clicking here.
Get the picture
These days a buyer’s first impression of your home is through an online listing. That means you’ll need some great hi-res photos of your home, inside and out. Even if you think of yourself as a decent shutterbug, avoid the temptation to do that yourself, and spring for a professional photographer.
Without great pictures, if you’re selling your Asheville home, a lot of buyers may just pass when they see your home listed online. And be sure to take these pictures after your home is clean, shiny, and staged for sale.
Western North Carolina is experiencing a seller’s market at this time. That’s in your favor if you’re looking to sell your house, but it doesn’t mean you can afford to get sloppy. Taking the steps we’ve outlined will make your home stand out from the rest, and it might be what it takes to help you get the highest price for your home.
Buying or selling a home?
Avoid unpleasant surprises! Contact Asheville Home Inspector Peter Young before signing any contracts. Call (828) 808-4980, or click here to make an appointment.
