
With so many steps involved with selling your home, it's easy to forget details or let tasks slip through the cracks, especially if it's your first time through the process. Even the most experienced sellers often forget a thing or two, which is why our real estate agents are always there to guide you every step of the way. If you're planning to list your home this year, where are some things you'll definitely want to remember to do:
- Boost Your Curb Appeal
When it's time to sell, we often recommend focusing on your curb appeal first. Your curb appeal describes how your property is perceived from the street, and it's going to be what ultimately catches buyers' attention when they're scrolling through listings online. There are literally dozens of things you can do to boost your curb appeal. Paint your front door and garage door, touch up your landscaping, update your mailbox, power wash your facade, and update your sidewalk lighting — do what you can to make a great first impression.
- Investigate Your Home's Online Reputation
Whether you realize it or not, the Internet has a lot to say about your current property. From old listing photos to third-party home value estimates, potential buyers can get a lot of background info with just a couple of clicks. If websites are misrepresenting your listing, reach out and ask them to update it. Many real estate websites receive feeds from the MLS website, so you might need to work with your real estate agent to take new listing photos or update your property info.
- Prepare Your Social Media Strategy
Social media has changed the way buyers shop for and discover homes. Use your own social media channels to promote your listing to friends and family. You should also request your real estate agent to leverage Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and other platforms to help drum up some additional interest. We've stumbled across some of our favorite Suffolk County homes for sale on various social channels.
- Stage Your Space
Before your home hits the market, you should do what you can to make it look less like your home. Pack away those pictures and your favorite art pieces. If your rooms have a bold color scheme, replace it with neutral tones. We often recommend renting a storage unit to make decluttering easier. Focus on maximizing light exposure and consult with your real estate agent on the best strategies to stage each room.
- Make The Small Repairs
Now is the time to replace light bulbs, fix doorknobs, and patch the walls. You might not think these little items matter, but they'll certainly catch a buyer's attention. As a general rule of thumb, you should complete any repairs that cost less than $100 before listing your home.
- Clean From Top To Bottom
How buyers perceive your interior can make or break your sale price. You'll want to make sure your home is 100% spotless before listing it. Clean and dust every corner, baseboard, and surface. If you can afford to hire a professional cleaning company, it's definitely worth the investment.
When it comes to selling your home, hard work upfront pays dividends in the long run. Contact us today for more home-selling tips.