9 Things to Do to Your House Before Selling

As the snow melts and spring arrives in Sioux Falls, the seasonal housing market heats up too. If you’re planning to prep your home for sale, there are plenty of things you can get started on no matter what the weather is doing.

1. Shop for a Real Estate Agent

Before you make any significant decisions about what to do to get your house ready for selling, it’s best to get an expert opinion about what will work best for your specific situation in the current housing market. So shop around for a real estate agent who can best represent you and your selling goals and who can bring the most knowledge, most effective tools and latest technologies to the home selling process.

2. Brainstorm Listing Details

Start compiling a list of all the best things about your home and neighborhood in Sioux Falls, including what made you fall in love with the place in the beginning, what you’ve come to appreciate since, insights about your neighbors, the walkability of the neighborhood or its proximity to schools, work, parks or attractions. Whether or not other people agree with you, such a list can be powerful ammunition in the hands of an experienced real estate agent when it comes time to market your house.

Emphasize any distinctive features of your home that can be showcased to attract buyers. Mentioning specific, desirable home features can increase a property's appeal and value. These kinds of things are often cited as features of a listing that stand out most to buyers.

Also begin to prepare a file with the documents you’ll likely need to list your house and eventually close on it. Those documents may include the original purchase agreement, the deed and title report, property tax statements, home equity and mortgage information, your homeowners insurance policy, and any warranties on appliances or renovation work.

3. Declutter Your Living Space

Take advantage of the natural urge to do some spring cleaning. Freeing up your living space not only makes your home more presentable, but it can make it feel more spacious and allow a potential buyer to better imagine what they’d like to do with the room. You can start the packing process by removing anything you’re not currently using, then go back and thin the furniture and decor to only the necessities.

4. Pack Up Personal Belongings

Removing the clutter in your home can easily merge with the recommendation from the National Association of Realtors and most experts to depersonalize your property when selling. Prospective buyers want to envision themselves living in the house, so pack up all family photos and personal items so that only neutral decor remains. And as a matter of security, it’s also advisable to put away any valuables like art or antiques.

5. Dress Up Your Curb Appeal

The heavy lifting involved in preparing for a home sale can often revolve around your house’s curb appeal. As soon as it’s feasible to get outside, consider getting started on the work of powerwashing your siding, pruning trees and bushes, updating your landscaping, and maintaining your lawn.

Even before your first open house or showings, word may get out among friends, family, neighbors, and the real estate agents you’re meeting with, so your efforts to improve curb appeal may take priority over some of the other things to do to your house before selling.

6. Fix What You Can

You’ll want to fix any issues that may be an obstacle to selling and update areas that will help enhance your home's value, especially anything that might attract unwanted attention, such as unpleasant odors, clutter, or outdated fixtures. Fixes can be anything from a major roof repair to a much needed renovation like refinishing hardwood floors to small repairs like updating your kitchen hardware or light fixtures or making sure your garage door is working properly. The goal is to ensure every square foot is in good condition with no obvious signs of damage from pets or normal wear and tear.

7. Clean Deeply

This may be the least fun aspect for home sellers, but a deep cleaning that neutralizes odors in the house is simply the standard for selling these days. That includes not only walls and floors but also furniture and cushions. A fresh, clean look will go a long way toward showcasing your home’s market value.

8. Paint a Fresh Coat

There are few things that shout clean and fresh more than a new coat of paint. At a minimum, filling holes and touching up your walls and trim can cover years of wear and tear, while a fresh coat of paint in a couple rooms or on your front door can bring your home’s appearance up a notch. When you paint, an important thing to consider is that home selling experts recommend choosing a neutral color.

9. Stage Your Home

The last major item on this list of preparation tips for showing your home is to consider staging it to be buyer friendly. This can mean shipping your own stuff off to a storage space and bringing in professional home stagers who can provide showcase-worthy furniture and decor, or it can simply mean rearranging your living room, focusing on simple decor and adding some fresh flowers and plants. Staging rooms is one of the strategies to help sell your home fast.

As with any of these 9 items, you get to customize your approach based on the existing condition of your home, the time you have available and your selling goals. Contact the Tyler Goff Group for personalized advice or a home evaluation.