3 Ways to Add Value to Your Home

Spring is approaching quickly. If you are preparing to sell your home during one of the busiest selling seasons of the year, you know you are going to be facing tough competition. Stand out from the listings – and in your neighborhood – by putting these 3 things on your to-do list before you place that for-sale sign in your yard.

1. Hire Good Help

The very first thing to do when preparing to sell your home is to hire a real estate agent. Not only do they have the education and experience dealing with the load of paperwork but they will help ensure you get the best price for your home. At Malfer & Associates, our realtors have more than 350 years of combined experience in the real estate industry. Our 4-step pre-listing process has been perfected to help your home sell quickly and at the best price. It works like this:

• Step 1: We will discuss the financial situation, go over a pre-listing questionnaire with you, and provide a packet of information that details the selling process.
• Step 2: Our in-home consultation will include all the documentation and information you need to make solid selling decisions.
• Step 3: We will help you prepare your home with suggestions for improvements, upgrades, and staging.
• Step 4: We get down to business during this research and marketing stage, including the dates and times of the marketing plan. This is when we schedule professional photography, open houses, and print placements. Then we’re ready to put the final touches on with yard signs, lock boxes, and posting the listing in the MLS.

2. Curb Appeal Makes the Deal

Yes, first impressions will always matter – especially when it comes to buying a home. Peeling paint, crooked shutters, and stuffed gutters are sure to send any prospective buyers running. While an outdoor overhaul is most likely unnecessary, there are a few steps you can take to clear and clean up the exterior of your home. 

Planter’s Pleasure
Trim the trees and bushes. Keep the lawn manicured and treat any major yellow spots. Plant low-maintenance, colorful plants in strategic spots or pots placed around your front porch, stoop, or garden bed. Remember this tip throughout: You want to enhance your home – not hide it.

Hone in on Your Home
What may be small to you may be a big red flag to a buyer. Pay attention to the little things, like whether or not your mailbox is a little weathered or crooked and if your shutters need touching up. Consider having your siding or brick washed and/or touched up, as well. While you are at it, give your driveway a hose-down. Do not forget to wash the outside of your windows, too, as that will also benefit the interior of your home. Last, pay attention to your front door. Ensure it is well-fitted, that the locking mechanisms are updated, and add a welcoming touch with a wreath or sign.

3. Stage and Engage

Imagine prospective buyers feeling excited and ready to buy when they see the outside of your home. Now imagine them walking in and walking right back out. Preparing your home for sale also means making the inside a blank slate while you are still living there. Here are a few tips to begin:

Repair Now, Sell Now
When you bought your home, did you experience any major setbacks in the buying process? Issues will always come up during inspection, but they do not have to send you back to the negotiation table. Take care of repairs now and save yourself the time and expense later. Anything leaky, squeaky, or creaky can be fixed, oiled, and shined to show-worthy perfection. Remember, that which is ignored now may very well come up during inspection. With our Compass Concierge program, you are able to make these repairs without any upfront costs.

Organize and Neutralize
Are you afraid to open your closets? Do not spook buyers with overstuffed storage spaces, as they will assume there isn’t enough space in the home for their own things. Keeping your home organized and neutrally decorated is the best approach to selling your home. You want any person to walk through the door and imagine themselves living there. 

Up-Stage
These days, it’s not just about staging your home. It is about upstaging every other staged home on the market. In most cases, you can use your own furniture and belongings – the trick is to pare it down. Use the features in your home to highlight certain aspects, such as bringing your curtains higher up on the walls to enhance your tall ceilings. Smaller furniture will not be noticed for its size – but your large living room will. Well-placed items on the counters and window sills will work to show off space, rather than take it up. For tons of tips on staging your home for sale, check out our Home Staging Checklist now!

If you are feeling overwhelmed about the selling process, do not stress! Malfer & Associates will be there with you every step of the way, helping you fully prepare for sale and taking the weight of your changing world right off your shoulders. Our dedicated real estate agents are here to make the selling process simpler – with a promise of no pressure. Our only goal is to help you reach your goals. Contact us today to work with a real estate team like no other!