4 Tasks to Handle Now for a Faster Home Sale Later
If you are not quite ready to move yet, but you know you will definitely be in the market for a new home within the next year, there are a number of steps you can take now to start preparing for later. After all, if your home is ready to go on the market then you will feel comfortable listing it whenever the right time comes along. If you don’t prepare in advance it could take an extra month just to get it ready – especially if you have a busy schedule. Here are a few things to do to start preparing for your home sale.
- Create a To-Do List – Make a list of everything you absolutely need to do. Then, add projects you would like to do if money and/or time allows. Chisel away at the list when you can.
- Back to Neutral – If you have a very bold color palette in your home, you want to think about bringing it back to neutral to appeal to a wider variety of buyers. If you have bright tangerine paint in the kitchen, purple in the bedroom, and a chevron design in many colors on one living room wall, it is going to take a very special buyer to be attracted to it. Remember: you want buyers to be able to imagine themselves living in your home, which is really hard to do if the only thing they are fixated on is the paint.
- Have the Property Inspected – You might as well have the property inspected now. Wouldn’t you rather know if there is a major problem now that needs fixing rather than waiting until you are in the middle of the deal? Having to delay closing to address issues could end up costing you the home sale.
- Work on Curb Appeal – Now is the time to plan for next year’s season. For example, if you plant some young shrubs in the spring, they will be nicely filled in by next summer. You may want to paint your peeling shutters, power wash the home and think about having the driveway resealed, too.
If it is just a slight possibility that you may want to sell your house in a year or so, it can be a great help to start preparing now. You can work on your to-do list in your spare time, so you are never overwhelmed, and you will be able to take your time finding an agent, as well. Proper planning goes a long way in helping smooth the home sale process.