Did you know that the average sales price of U.S. houses sold in the third quarter of 2022 reached $542,900? That’s $15,400 higher than the previous quarter and $69,900 more than the third quarter of 2021.
Skyrocketing home selling prices don’t automatically mean yours will, too. However, you can set a higher price by making the right improvements when preparing to sell your home.
This property sale guide lists the vital steps you must take before selling your home, so be sure to read on.
1. Mind Your Home’s Curb Appeal
Curb appeal refers to how attractive a property is to people viewing it from the street. It includes the areas of a house that one can see from afar, such as the gate, fence, yard, cladding, and exterior walls.
Since the curb is the first thing house shoppers see, it’s a chief factor in their first impression. For instance, it helps them decide on the spot whether they’d even want to see a home’s interior.
It’s no wonder the curb appeal of a house and the adjacent property accounts for about 7% of a home’s selling price. Thus, it pays to spruce it up as much as possible before selling your home.
2. Take a Walk
Go out on the street and, from there, look at your home to get an idea of what potential buyers see. You can also take wide-angle photos for reference later.
Starting from the outside, make a repair or improvement checklist as you make your way into your home. Inspect areas most visible from the street for signs of damage and note them down.
Here are some examples of what you may have to include in the outdoor section of your list:
- Fix dents on the gate
- Replace sagging fence panels
- Wash exterior walls
- Clean up yard clutter
- Remove dead limbs
- Trim bushes
Afterward, go inside, walk through your home, and take note of things you need to fix or replace. These may include cracked tiles, peeling paint, sagging floors, or a faulty HVAC system. If you live in an older house, you may also have to include aging plumbing pipes and an old electrical system.
3. Consider a Professional House Inspection
If you need to sell your house ASAP but don’t have time for step 2, you can hire a certified master inspector instead.
Certified master inspectors are professionals providing comprehensive property-wide inspections. They check houses from top to bottom, including structural components and major systems. They even offer testing for radon gas, mold, lead-based paint, and moisture problems.
Check this out to learn more about professional real estate and house inspections.
4. Prioritize Repairs of Essential Components
Houses in excellent condition often sell faster than those in poorer states. That’s because many buyers want to focus on personalizing their new home instead of fixing it.
So before listing your home for sale, repair its structural and functional components. The former includes the foundation, frame, and roof. The latter includes windows, doors, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC.
Start Preparing to Sell Your Home
Preparing to sell your home is time-consuming but worth it, as it can help boost your property’s value. It also helps attract more potential buyers, thereby increasing competition. As a result, you can negotiate a higher selling price and speed up the sale.
So, consider following all our tips to raise your odds of a successful home sale.
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