If you’ve never put a home on the market before, the idea of prepping and marketing your place to prospective buyers might seem a bit intimidating. After all, there’s so much to do. You probably already know that you’ll need to make your home as presentable as possible, both inside and out. But there’s much more to it. So, if you are ready to list your home for sale in Rosemary Beach, follow these expert tips in getting your home prepped, advertised, and sold before you know it!
1. Before it’s listed, take care of some housekeeping
First impressions go a long way. Potential buyers will be more likely to make an offer if they walk through a clean, well-maintained, and decluttered home. Depending on your habits, this step might take a bit of time, but it is imperative. After all, it’s the first one on this list!
Buyers want a home that they can imagine themselves in. What this means for you is making an effort to make it shine and to keep it as depersonalized as possible. Make time for a thorough deep cleaning of your home. If your schedule doesn’t allow for it, consider a housekeeping service for a one-time job. A deep clean will include all the floors, baseboards, windows, and maybe some areas that you might tend to overlook.
Get into the habit of putting things away where they belong immediately after they are used. Don’t leave any dirty dishes in the sink or laundry on the floor. It might sound a bit like a parent double-checking your chores when you were a kid, but you really do want to leave a great first impression.
Don’t forget about the exterior! Make sure that all hedges and trees are neatly trimmed and pruned, the lawn is in great health and clear of debris, and any flowers are bright and colorful. After all, up-leveling your curb appeal is a great way to catch buyers’ attention as they drive past your property.
2. Now is the time to take care of any maintenance you’ve been putting off
Your home is sparkling clean, and your lawn is now the envy of the neighbors. Let’s move on to the next step, which involves things that might have been on a “honey-do list” for a while. So, when it comes to repairs and maintenance, you’ll be better off finishing this step now.
Walk from room to room, making a list of what needs to be completed. Dedicate time to getting them done so that there’s nothing left before the first walk-through is scheduled. It’s often a good idea to hire an expert inspector to evaluate your home’s condition. Having a pro on hand will certainly give you a better idea of what needs to be repaired, and they can catch some areas in need of attention that you might miss.
Most likely, your buyer will order their own inspection of the property when the time comes. However, there is undoubtedly a benefit to getting one done beforehand so that issues are taken care of before that first offer is even made. Some repairs can take a bit of time to mitigate, so it’s vital to get any of them identified and completed before someone makes an offer.
3. Staging your home has some great benefits
Remember how we stressed that a potential buyer will want to “see” themselves in the home? Aside from your home being clean, decluttered, and in tip-top shape, a professional staging of the rooms can also go a long way in giving buyers this feeling.
The National Association of Realtors released a 2021 report that emphasized the benefits of home staging. In that report, 47% of buyers’ agents maintained that home staging gave their clients a positive impression of the homes.
Staging a home is a bit of a process, but it can generate significant rewards. During your staging efforts, it’s essential to paint rooms a neutral color, pack and store away personal items that you don’t need, and use proper lighting in each room.
If you have a front porch, selecting the right furniture to give the gateway into your home a warm and welcoming feel will really set the tone that screams, “BUY ME!” The curb appeal is so important, as the outside of your home is the first thing any potential buyer will see when they arrive, and it’s often the first photo they will view when looking at a listing online.
4. Hire a professional photographer
Many home buyers peruse numerous online listings before they ever set foot inside a property. Depending on how many homes on the market might fit their criteria, this may mean that your potential buyer might be sifting through a large number of listings before they settle on which ones to view in person. Because of this, you’ll want to ensure that your photos stand out against all the rest of the Rosemary Beach real estate scene. Thus, you’ll want to hire a professional photographer.
No matter how great the quality of the camera on your phone or how great you are at taking photos, a pro who points and clicks for a living will really bring a lot more to the table. Knowing what lighting to use, what angles to approach a subject, and what equipment works best is part of what makes a professional photographer so valuable to jump-start the home selling process.
A trusted local agent with years of experience will have built professional networks of other important players in the real estate game. Solid referrals to reputable home inspectors, room stagers, and photographers are part of what makes doing business with a real estate agent strongly recommended.
5. An experienced agent can make the entire process seamless
From start to finish, you’ll want to take steps to ensure that you can
sell your house fast. An established agent will leverage years of experience and a multitude of professional contacts to help you every step of the way. If you are selling Rosemary Beach real estate, reach out to
Carly Sostheim for expert guidance in the sale of your beloved home.
*Header photo courtesy of Shutterstock
