If you have a St. Louis or St.
Charles County, Missouri area home to sell, you’re probably thinking of how to
get the most value for your home. While the current sellers market is
beneficial for home sellers looking to get the most from their home sale, there
is more you can do to ensure your home brings top dollar. We’ve put together a
list of things to do to improve the condition of your home so that it looks its
best in pictures and brings the most interest and offers when your home is
listed for sale.
Create A Plan
Imagine you are a homebuyer and
walk through your home. Write down anything that needs cleaning, fixing or
updating. Consider any items that need to be sold, donated or thrown away to
make your home feel more spacious. Get advice from a REALTOR who can see your
home with fresh eyes through the lens of experience.
Prepare The Home Exterior
The front exterior of your home and
its curb appeal will be the first things potential homebuyers see. So you must
make a good impression to elevate the value of the home in the eyes of
homebuyers.
- Touch up the paint on the home's exterior, including trim, doors and shutters.
- Inspect the roof and make repairs as needed.
- Check that the gutters and downspouts are free of debris.
- Wash the windows.
- Repair any cracks in the driveway and sidewalks.
- Make sure the lawn is mowed and that landscaping and trees are trimmed.
- Remove any debris, clippings, toys, trash, or pet droppings from the yard.
- Check front door, doorbell, address number, welcome mat and mailbox.
- Add color with seasonal flowers or shrubs if time allows.
Prepare The Home Interior
Before we discuss to-do’s for
particular spaces in a home, let’s look at items throughout the home that need
to be addressed before it is put on the market.
- Completely clean your home or hire a home cleaning service.
- Stow away valuables in a safe place.
- Repair any cracks or holes in walls and clean any marks or touch-up the paint.
- Repair or replace any torn screens.
- Clean carpeting and draperies for best appearance and freshness.
- Clean and inspect the fireplace and make any necessary repairs.
- Lubricate squeaky doors, windows, and cabinets.
- Replace any burned out light bulbs.
- Pre-pack and store extra items or out-of-season items like holiday décor and clothes.
- If the basement or attic is a functioning part of the house, make sure the area is clean and in good repair.
Prepare The Kitchen
The kitchen has become one of the
most important rooms in the house. It is a place that homeowners spend a
lot of time cooking and bonding with their family. So it is a place that
homebuyers pay special attention to.
- Be sure cabinets, refrigerator, ceiling fans and vent hoods are wiped down and clean.
- Clear the counters of any appliances. If an appliance must remain, be sure it is clean.
- Make sure the floors are clean. . If the floor looks old and dull, consider replacing the flooring.
- Organize your cabinets because potential buyers will often open the doors.
- Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink.
Prepare The Bathroom
Homebuyers will want to ensure any
bathrooms in the home are in good working condition. Of course you’ll want to
be sure that the bathrooms in your home are as clean as possible. You should
also check the following.
- Replace old caulking around bathtub and sinks.
- Repair or replace any leaky faucets.
- Unclog and sanitize drains to remove odors.
- Keep the toilet seat lids closed.
- Keep fresh towels in the bathrooms at all times.
Prepare The Garage
If the home you are selling has a
garage, you’ll want to prepare it to look its best for the home sale as well.
- Clean and organize items currently in the garage leaving room to store any additional items from inside the home.
- Any items stored in the garage from inside the home should be stored as neatly as possible.
- Remove any stains from the garage floor with degreasers found at your local home repair store.
- Remove any cobwebs from the ceiling of the garage and from around the doors.
- Make sure garage door openers and lights are working.
While you can’t control where your
home is located, or the value of comparable properties your home will compete
with when it is listed for sale, you can control the condition of your home.
Using this list and talking to an experienced real estate agent like those on
The Boehmer Team will ensure that you do everything possible to make the most
from your home sale. Thinking of selling? Contact The Boehmer Team to make it a
better experience. Still need more info? CLICK HERE to learn the Home Selling Process.
