The Ultimate List For Selling Your Home

PARTNER WITH A GREAT REAL ESTATE AGENT

People sometimes think that they can sell their house without the professional help of a real estate agent. Folks hope to avoid paying a commission and instead would like to handle it all themselves.

As longtime industry professionals, let us give you a piece of advice: That might be a bad idea.

A realtor’s job is much more than just listing the home or holding an open house. They help you clean and organize the home in a way that is more appealing to buyers. Agents get maximum exposure for your home in the market that would be difficult, if not impossible, to do on your own. Ultimately, they best position your home to sell.

Qualified realtors will also have a much better idea of the buyer market than the average Coastal Virginia resident. They will know what amenities or floorplans are “in” at any given moment. Even more importantly, they will have relationships with other realtors in the local market.

These relationships with other agents are often the difference between a buyer looking at your home or their realtor taking them to a different property.

If you are looking for an experienced, qualified real estate agent in Coastal Virginia, look no further than the team at ProActive Real Estate Services. The professionals at ProActive have decades of experience in real estate in the Hampton Roads market. They know all the ins-and-outs of selling a home in Hampton Roads at a great price.

DECLUTTER EACH ROOM

Buyers will have a difficult time picturing themselves in the home if all that is in the rooms are personal belongings, mementos, and furniture. Even worse, there simply may be too much stuff in the home for any prospective buyer to view it properly.

You would like to make each room in the house feel big and open to the potential buyer’s interpretation. If they are walking through the home with other visitors or family, they may feel overcrowded and question whether the home is spacious enough for their liking.

Not only will clutter and other items make the home feel small, but it will also have a significant impact on your bottom-line takeaway. Research has found that reducing clutter and wasted space in your home can add $2,500 to the value you receive at the sale. By reducing clutter, you will make the home more visually appealing and increase the value of your home.

The rooms you should be most focused on are the living room, kitchen, and primary bedroom. These spaces are consistently ranked most important to potential buyers. It is best to prioritize these rooms first.

DEEP CLEAN AND KEEP IT CLEAN

After decluttering, it is probable that you will realize a hearty deep cleaning is long overdue. You may want to do it yourself or hire a Coastal Virginia professional cleaning service. Even if you are dreading the clean, it is always worth the effort.

A deep clean, that you will want to keep maintaining, can add up to $2,000 to your home’s resale value. Like decluttering, it is a simple solution to add some serious cash to your bottom line.

When you are ready to take the task head on, make a list of what is necessary. Kitchens and bathrooms are a great place to start the deep clean. Write out any and everything that needs to be cleaned, from appliances to faucets to the tile on your showers.

Each room should get cleaning attention. Make sure to dust everything that can be dusted. Be sure to put fresh sheets and linens on beds. Clean all the carpets and rugs. Wash all your windows and screen doors.

In short, your home cannot be clean enough when it is time to put it on the market. It will make a world of difference to potential buyers.

MAKE ALL YOUR REPAIRS

While all homeowners have some level of routine maintenance, you do not want to leave a list of things to be repaired for a new owner. Not only may it prevent you from getting a deal done, but it leaves a bad impression if a buyer thinks you are leaving behind a laundry list of repairs.

It is painful to spend the money on a repair knowing you will not enjoy the benefits of it. We know that. However, the benefits in the sales process are well worth the money spent.

Buyers will view it as “move-in ready” which is a major advantage. Knowing there will be no significant repairs to spend on means they will be more likely to offer you full list price. 

Some things, however, are not worth your time and money to fix. Here are a few fixes that may not be valuable to you as a seller:

• Minor electrical issues
• Cracks in the driveway
• Old appliances
• Cosmetic items

TIME YOUR HOME INSPECTION

In a fast-changing market with higher interest rates and more inventory sitting on the market, timing makes all the difference. The ProActive Team suggests that you consider investing in a home inspection prior to listing your home, especially if your home is older than 10+ years. This approach allows you to foresee potential issues that will interrupt your transaction, such as repairs.

Some of the repairs you have to make will be to pass a home inspection. You will want to ensure that your home is in great shape to pass an inspection.

During a home inspection, an inspector will check your Hampton Roads home for water damage, roof condition, electrical problems, structural issues, or a variety of other things. Home inspectors have a checklist of 1,600 items according to the National Association of Home Inspectors.

Due to how much they are looking for, they will almost always find something that you need to fix. Do not take it personally, as they are just doing their jobs. In fact, their analysis puts you in the best position to sell your Coastal Virginia home.

BEST OF LUCK SELLING YOUR HAMPTON ROADS HOME

We hope that this checklist can help you sell your home at a great price. If you have any questions about selling your home in Hampton Roads, feel free to contact the ProActive Team. ProActive Real Estate Services has decades of experience in residential real estate in Virginia and would be happy to help sell your home.