If you’re encouraged by the “pending” signs around your neighborhood and want to put your home on the market, you first need to get it sale-ready. That requires a strategy, because depending on the upgrades your home needs, it might be a time-consuming task.
We’re not talking major overhauls, like redoing bathrooms and kitchens. But there are changes you can make that will give a good return on your real-estate investment. The most productive changes you can make include updating the flooring, adding a fresh coat of paint and decluttering and cleaning like there’s no tomorrow.
Begin by assessing the updates and set an action plan that’s six to eight weeks before listing your home. And consult with your agent on considering a professional home stager.
Updating wood floors: If resanding will do the trick, allow time to schedule professionals’ visits and estimates. For partial or complete replacements, allow time for measuring, choosing flooring and getting written quotes for cost comparison.
Recarpeting: A professional can help you choose something current, inexpensive and suitable for showcasing your home.
Painting: Allow time for estimates. Settle on a happy medium between neutralizing your home’s colors, keeping them modern and complementing furniture and fixtures. If you’re doing the painting, plan time for removing and repainting floorboards, repairing cracks, applying drywall tape, priming and repainting ceilings.
Declutter: You will need a day or two to declutter closets, the garage and other storage. You may want to rent a portable storage unit to temporarily remove items. You’ll need a day’s or even a week’s lead time for delivery of the bin, a day or two to load it and another appointment to have it taken away.
Extreme cleaning: The more you clean, the better. To save time and energy, hire a cleaning service to thoroughly clean the kitchen, its appliances and bathrooms. Hiring a professional window washer who cleans the indoors and outdoors results in extra sparkle.
Timetable
Start by choosing your desired listing date, then work backward.
Allow six weeks to have flooring completed.
Set aside two to four weeks before flooring completion for painting.
Allow several days to declutter and clean.
You’ll likely stage your furniture just before showing, but consult your agent for guidance.
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