The Home Seller's Survival Guide

There's no doubt that you're going to be busy while you work to sell your home, but focusing your energy in the right places will make your life much easier. Better yet, a bit of focused prep can make your home more appealing to potential buyers and ultimately makes it easier to find the right match as quickly as possible. Use this "survival guide" for selling your home to get started.

1. Your Real Estate Agent – Working with a real estate agent that you trust really does make a huge difference when selling a house. Ask for referrals, potential interview choices, and choose the agent that best matches your needs.
   
   
2. Consider Cost – Choosing the right price is one area where your real estate agent can be a big help because they have done the market research to understand trends in local real estate prices. Setting a fair price goes a long way toward enticing curious shoppers to take that first look and enticing interested buyers to make a real offer.
   
   
3. Keep It Clean – Showings (and open houses) are simply part of the home-selling process, and you'll need to keep a clean, neat home if you want to make a positive impression. Make sure that floors, walls, corners, kitchen surfaces, appliances, and everything else look its absolute best. It also helps to put together a cleaning prep checklist for days when you'll be showing your home.
   
   
4. Clutter-Free – This is huge, and it's an easy step to miss if you'll be living in the home until you sell it. The less clutter – furniture included – the better. You want shoppers to be able to envision their own lives in your home. Consider renting a storage unit to safely store non-essential items until you are ready to move into your next home.
   
   
5. Maintenance and Repairs – DIY repairs are a great way to save some money if you have the experience necessary to do the job. For bigger maintenance tasks, it simply makes more sense to hire a contractor. Putting off repairs now just means more headaches and costs later when it's time for inspection.
   
   
6. Landscaping – The outside of your house is where shoppers form their first impression, so be sure that your landscaping is looking its best. Keep up with outdoor maintenance, including cutting the lawn, for as long as you'll be showing your home. You might even consider adding some new landscaping features for increased curb appeal.
   
   
7. A Welcoming Gesture – On days when you'll be showing, it's a good idea to make or buy some light refreshments for your visitors. Some fresh cookies, fruit, and coffee/tea will make shoppers feel right at home. Your real estate agent will help get the word out about your open house and can walk you through the process so you'll be ready to go.

Your real estate agent will help make sure that people show up, so the most important thing you can do when selling a house is to make sure that your home is always ready to show. That part becomes significantly easier to maintain after you get the initial work out of the way, as long as you keep up with it consistently. With a little teamwork, you'll find the right buyer in no time.

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• Spring Décor Updates to Brighten Your Home

• Simple Daily Habits to Maintain a Cleaner Home
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• When Buying New Construction Makes More Sense Than Resale
• What to Look for in a Move-In-Ready Home
• What Buyers Should Know About Flood Risk and Insurance
• What Happens Between Offer Acceptance and Closing
• What First-Time Buyers Should Know About Property Surveys
• How to Spot Renovations Done Without Permits
• What to Know About Homeowners Associations Before You Buy
• Touring Homes With a Critical Eye: What Buyers Often Miss
• How to Evaluate a Neighborhood During Different Times of Day
• The Best Home Styles for Enjoying Spring Weather

• What to Do the First Week in Your New Home
• What to Know About Using Gifted Funds for a Down Payment

• Why Outdoor Lighting Improves Evening Showings
• How to Handle Multiple Showing Requests Efficiently
• What Sellers Should Know About Buyer Contingencies
• How to Prepare Your Home for Last-Minute Showings
• When a Price Reduction Can Help Restart Buyer Interest
• How Professional Photography Impacts Online Listing Views
• The Hidden Costs Sellers Should Plan For
• What Sellers Should Know About Appraisal Gaps
• How to Prepare Your Home for a Competitive Offer Situation
• Packing Tips for Sellers: Preparing for a Spring Move

• What to Store, Donate, or Toss Before Listing
• What Buyers Notice First in Listing Photos