Step 2: Preparing Your Home
PREPARING THE DISCLOSURE PACKET
The WPM Properties team will work with you to prepare all disclosure documents as well as obtain all appropriate property inspection reports; termite/pest, roof, home inspection and additional inspections that would benefit the sale of your home. Providing this information upfront to buyers will enhance your property value and increase its desirability.
PREPARING YOUR HOME
An important factor in selling your home is property condition. Of the three reasons a home sells (price, property and condition), this is one of the two that can be changed. You may not be able to do any major upgrades to your property, but there’s a lot you can do, at little or no cost to you, to prepare your home for sale. Remember, first impressions really count.
Your curbside appeal can be as important as the interior. Take a good, objective look at your home from the outside and make sure it’s presentable. Some ways to increase the appeal of your home include the following:
Make sure that your lawn is cut and any shrubs or bushes are well manicured.
Add some mulch or eye-catching flowering plants around the walkways or in front of house for added curb appeal.
Lighten the wall color in your house to make it look larger and cheerier, Optimize all of the space your home has to offer and depersonalize the space by removing personal photos and other mementos.
Add light to your rooms by adding overhead lighting or lamps, or adding brighter bulbs to existing light fixtures.
De-clutter. The general rule is to de-clutter by 50% to allow potential homeowners to see the space and possibilities your home has to offer.
Have a local cleaning company do head-to-toe cleaning of your house, including dusting, cleaning all of the appliances and cleaning the windows, window sills and ceiling fans. Have your carpets professionally steam cleaned.
Your agent will walk through your home and make personalized home-preparation suggestions. Besides the appearance of your home, one way to prepare your home for sale is to have it pre-inspected by a general home inspector and make any necessary repairs to the foundation, roof, plumbing, electrical and HVAC. This can reduce your liability and show buyers that you are earnest in selling your home in good condition and with full disclosure.