Top Tips for Selling Your Home from Real Estate Agent Sibilla Dengs, Williamsburg Realty
Top Tips for Selling Your Home
By Sibilla Dengs, Real Estate Agent, Williamsburg Realty
What a great time of year, to start taking care of details if you are thinking about selling your home. There are a number of things that you can do which will help you through this process, put your home’s best foot forward and maximize your selling price!
The most important step is to rely on the experts and find a knowledgeable realtor! This is a partnership, so you want to be comfortable talking and sharing with this person. They are your eyes and ears in the marketplace and you need to know that they have your best interests in mind and you can count on them to support you. Make sure they also know the community, including neighborhoods, schools, activities and much more. Your realtor will help you set your home’s selling price and guide you through all of the steps of selling your home.
Get prepared for your meeting with your realtor. Pull together all of your important documents:
- deed
- survey
- mortgage information and balance
- permits and details on any home improvements you made to your home and property
- all documentation you have that relates to the home’s systems, appliances and roof
- proof of termite/pest contracts
- documentation for dealing with any major issues in the home, that may need to be shared with the buyer
- and all utility bills
Your realtor will advise of anything else you may need to provide or do, such as have a home inspection prior to listing the property. His or her advice will be integral to the process.
Now the fun begins — let’s gets that home ready to sell!
Conduct your own inspection of your home. Are all of the necessary alarms installed and working? Does anything need to be fixed, or possibly replaced? Is any painting required inside or outside? Keep in mind… Appearance, appearance, appearance! Are all windows, screens and carpets clean? Do cabinets and woodwork need to be cleaned and polished? Any tiles need to be re-grouted or re-caulked? Make sure there are not any leaks anywhere. Are all lightbulbs working?
Remember the little things like the drawer that sticks, or a handle that isn’t tightly attached. The stove, oven and microwave should sparkle. Keep a lookout for those cobwebs that just appear, too!
The outside is as important as the inside. The lawn, hedges, bushes, trees and plants should be aesthetically appealing. How’s that mailbox look? Are those rockers on the front porch freshly painted? Is that front entrance calling me to walk through the door?
Everyone’s least favorite part is eliminating the clutter, but it is a must-do! Get rid of the piles, mementos, pictures, books magazines, storage units and anything that is lying around or on top of the furniture. You want your buyer to feel at home here, not like they are in someone else’s home. You may even need to move out some of your furniture to make the rooms look as spacious as possible. Your realtor can put you in touch with someone to stage your rooms if you would like professional help.
Don’t forget to clean out and organize closets, cabinets and the most hidden spots in your home. Even laundry and utility rooms need to be picture perfect! These home shoppers will be looking in every nook and cranny, leaving no stones unturned.
If your home is going to be vacant through the selling process, there are some additional details you need to handle. Discuss with your realtor if you should show your home empty or have it staged to appear as someone is living in it. Maintain the home’s inside temperature and outside curb appeal. It is a good idea to keep some lights on timers and make certain mail, newspapers and garbage cans are dealt with. Lastly, survey the house before leaving to make certain there are not any openings where uninvited critters can make themselves at home. Lastly, alert law enforcement and neighbors to let them know your home will be vacant.
Finally it’s showing time… There are a few final touches you can make before your visitors arrive. Make certain the house is clean. Toilet seats should be down, adjust window coverings to maximize the light in the rooms, fresh flowers are a nice touch, as are planters by the front door. Does your home smell fresh and clean?
You should be all set to go… Happy Selling!
Current Listing:
Skimino Landing: 402 Skimino Landing Dr. Williamsburg, VA 23188 – $228,000 /
MLS # 30048958
Link: Skimino Landing
Former owner of artcafe26, a Williamsburg resident for over 16 years and a grandmother to Frederic, mother to Susannah, and wife to Bernd, Sibilla Dengs understands how important finding a wonderful place to live and a great community is to you and your family. Having lived and traveled all over the globe, her cultured and worldly experiences bring a very unique perspective to the home buying and selling journey. Sibilla’s commitment to excellence and her clients’ needs is unparalleled and she is excited to stand by your side every step throughout this exciting process. www.williamsburgrealtyofva.com
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