A To-Do List for Home Sellers

Here are some tips on how to prep your home to sell, avoiding headaches.

Despite Central Indiana’s strong real estate market, selling a home can be a nerve-racking and emotional process. Will people like my house? Is my condo good enough? In reality, getting yourself and your home ready for the sale involves the right balance of thoughtful preparation and gradual detachment.

The right realtor can help things go as smoothly as possible. Let’s ask LaToya Dix, Amy Englert and Patsy Coffey to put their heads together to provide the a to-do list for getting the most out of your home.

Make your home pretty

With the market moving at a rapid-fire pace, making a good first impression will help your home stand out and attract the right buyer as fast as possible. “The first thing that every seller needs to do in today’s market is make their house as pretty as they can without spending a fortune,” Englert said.

The easiest and most affordable way to do this is to make sure your home is clean and clutter free for showing. Packing seasonal items away will show off the space, make the home look bigger, and help you start the mental process of moving out.

Easy, affordable updates like paint and landscaping can go a long way. Fresh paint inside and out will help your home look well cared for. Choosing the right colors – shades of grey are popular right now – will modernize an older home. Today’s buyers often escalate from an internet search to a neighborhood drive-by before scheduling a showing. Mulch, flowers, clean windows, and a freshly painted door give your home curb appeal. If you don’t have the time or money to do the updates yourself, Dix suggests offering an allowance.

Make it feel like (it could be their) home

Part of selling your home is helping potential buyers imagine what it might look like if it were theirs. Make sure the home is neat and tidy, but don’t empty it completely: furnishings and basic decor enable buyers to visualize how the space can be used. Dix recommends taking down family photos and Coffey suggests putting out flowers or light scents. “Not overbearing, but something fresh that makes it feel like home,” she said. “Buying is an emotional process.”

Give your buyer some peace of mind

Purchasing a home as the market speeds along can feel rushed, and many buyers will fret over making the right choice. At a minimum, make sure you don’t have any deferred maintenance or repairs and consider doing a pre-inspection. To show potential buyers that the home is in fact in good working order and establish a bond of trust, make these records available during showings.

Dix urges her clients to think about offering a home warranty. “This isn’t a brand-new home, but it’s new to them,” she said. With a warranty, “some of those mechanicals, plumbing and roofing are covered for at least one year.”

Prepare yourself for the sale: Know your next steps

Since homes are selling quickly in today’s Central Indiana real estate market, sellers need to have a plan in place once theirs gets an offer or goes under contract. Are you downsizing or upsizing? Are you adamant about only making one move, or are you willing to rent for a while? With a goal in place, your realtor can help you make an informed decision and develop a plan. To smooth the transition, consider having a rolling list of your top three homes, getting pre-approved for your own loan and knowing where you’ll live if your home sells faster than expected.

Choose the right realtor

According to Englert, it’s essential to find the right real estate professional to help you navigate the sale of your home. Bring somebody in who knows your neighborhood and works as a full-time realtor. An expert will not only help you set the right price point and help put your home’s best foot forward, they’ll guide you through the process, from standard paperwork to taking backup offers.

Have the right attitude

In today’s market, Englert stresses the importance of balance. Think competitively, but be flexible. To make sure you get the most for your home, know the properties that are comparable to yours. “Ask yourself, can my home be prettier, can I offer better terms and conditions? Can I win on price?” Englert said. The right realtor is invaluable in this process.

But this is still a human interaction, and finding the right buyer means saying yes to showings even when the house isn’t perfectly picked up and being prepared to negotiate. “That negotiation is really important for establishing a cooperative transaction,” Englert said. “Don’t play hardball. These are families, not Fortune 500 companies.”