With the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area representing one of the fastest-growing populations in America, there is no doubt that this has created a unique real estate climate favorable to sellers. Because this area of Texas is host to a first-rate restaurant and bar scene, a lovable cowboy culture, abundant live music offerings, and amiable residents, Americans are flocking to this region at a rate of over 250 residents per day.
Dallas homeowners looking to sell their current home should take comfort in knowing that the Dallas real estate market is booming. However, it can be overwhelming to determine where to start preparing your home for being listed on the real estate market. Here is a guide to help you decide exactly where to focus your efforts to guarantee the optimal return on investment on the sale of your home.
Declutter, depersonalize, and disassociate
The first step in readying your home for sale is to gain a fresh, objective perspective on how your home appears to potential buyers. Remember that prospective buyers want to see a clean, organized space that can be viewed as a generic space to envision their own family and lifestyle. Begin by recognizing those areas of your home that have accumulated trinkets, books, and mementos that don’t add aesthetic value to the space. In other words, clean up the clutter! If no longer needed, box up these items and donate them to someone who will find them useful, like the Salvation Army or Goodwill. Pay special attention to keeping kitchen counters clean and uncluttered, as this is sure to maximize the room’s appeal.
This is also the time to pack away personal items, such as family photographs, keepsakes, and heirlooms that are unique to you and your family. Potential homebuyers are most attracted to homes that can be viewed as a blank slate, one in which they can visualize their own furnishings. This is also the ideal time to remove any statement furniture pieces, rugs, or decor from your home, as these can be distracting. Consider renting a storage unit to store any items that divert the attention of prospective homebuyers from the otherwise collective serenity of your home. Clean out and organize closets and cabinets to show homebuyers that the house has been well maintained.
If completing any of the above tasks has stirred up a feeling of sadness about your family’s impending move, know that this is an entirely normal emotional reaction to saying goodbye to your home. Try to remember that despite leaving the physical house behind, the family memories made within the walls of this home will stay with you forever.
Deep clean
After your home is devoid of unnecessary items, it is time to scrub, polish, mop, and sweep until the house is sparkling, squeaky clean, and spotless. This is the time to buff doorknobs, clean and tighten cabinet hardware, caulk showers and sinks, pressure wash the deck, and scrub windows both inside and out. Eliminate dust that has collected on the inside and tops of shelving and cabinets, light fixtures, ceiling fan blades, and underneath furniture. If you haven’t got the time or dedication for such an intense undertaking, hire a professional cleaning crew.
This is also the perfect time to open up every curtain and window shade in the home to clear these of dust and allow maximum daylight into each room. If a room in your home has a large window, center furniture around it to make it the room’s focal point. If your home has few windows or windows lacking in size, hang a mirror directly across from the room’s most prominent window. This allows light to reflect off the mirror into the rest of the room, creating the effect that the room is much brighter than it actually is.
Although it is a hassle, keep up the hard work by vacuuming, dusting, and touching up bathrooms and kitchens each day to ensure that the house is ready at a moment’s notice for a viewing. Be mindful of the types of meals you cook during your home on the market so that homebuyers aren’t turned off by any strong odors, like fish, garlic, or onions. Better yet, lightly spray each room of your home with a lemon or other fresh-scented air freshener before home showings.
Create Curb Appeal
Now that the inside of your home is pristine—let’s discuss a few ways to impress potential homebuyers with the impeccable exterior of your home. The importance of curb appeal cannot be overstated. Studies show that 90% of homebuyers shop online during the homebuying process. A sale is impossible if homebuyers won’t even step out of their vehicle because the home’s exterior doesn’t live up to their expectations.
Start by giving your front door a new coat of paint and adding a festive wreath, as well as some potted plants. Give some thought to hiring a landscaper to give your flowerbeds and shrubs a trim. Inspect your front porch, walkway, and driveways for cracks, and employ a contractor to repair anything deemed necessary.
Similar to the method of depersonalizing the interior of your home, remove any personal touches to the exterior of your home. Put away flags, landscaping ornaments, and loud holiday decor so as not to distract prospective homebuyers. Finally, choose a new welcome mat to greet those looking to purchase your home.
Talk to Experts
Once you have begun preparing your home for listing, it is time to call your trusted local real estate agent. Doing so a few months before actually listing your home gives you plenty of time to incorporate your realtor’s suggestions for maximizing your profit on the sale of your home. Ultimately, finding the right realtor results in a quick sale at a premium profit. Your realtor will point out your home’s best features and areas where the home can be improved. They then analyze your home’s direct competition on the current market and help you pinpoint focus areas to invest your time, effort, and money for maximum return on investment. Another perk is that if repairs are recommended, your realtor is familiar with reputable local contractors who can make the improvements before listing.
Another expert you should consider hiring is an inspector for a pre-listing home inspection. This ensures that you won’t discover any unpleasant surprises during the selling process. Although the inspection costs range between $250 and $700 depending on your location, the inspection verifies major items, like furnace and air conditioning systems, windows, and doors, are in peak condition. The inspector will also confirm no signs of water damage, mold, or foundation cracks. In short, having an inspection before listing your home is an efficient way of dealing with all of the repairs necessary to maximize profit during the transaction.
Finally, a wildly popular and highly beneficial expert these days is the home stager. A home stager not only makes your home more enticing by incorporating on-trend furniture, art, and accessories, their work guarantees that potential homebuyers will be able to envision themselves living in the home. More importantly, staged homes sell faster than their counterparts. If you prefer to stage your home yourself, here are some quick tips and tricks from professional home stagers that are sure to point you in the right direction.
Dallas homeowners are in the advantageous position of owning a home in a thriving real estate market. When you decide to sell your home, you can be confident that following these helpful tips will kickstart the process of readying your house for listing. Hiring an excellent realtor in the Dallas area is a surefire way to guarantee success, and Kevin McDonald is the perfect choice to help move toward your goal of selling your home. Having lived and worked in Dallas for the better part of 15 years, Kevin utilizes his expertise in technology and expertise regarding the nuances of the Dallas market to serve his clients to the best of his ability. Contact Kevin today to get started today.