3 Actions to take now if Planning to Sell in the Fall

Fall is typically the second busiest time of the year for selling homes. After Labor Day weekend, we often see more homes come on the market and more buyers hoping to find their next home before the year-end holiday season.  If you are thinking of selling this fall, here are a few actions you can take now to be sure your home is ready and make the process of selling easier, faster and more profitable.

1. ACT LIKE A BUYER. 
For a few weekends, tour some open houses of homes that are similar to yours or are in a similar price range as what you believe your home will sell.  Get a feel for what condition the homes are in from a maintenance perspective, what features homes offer in your price range and how the exterior is maintained.

2. NOW TOUR YOUR HOME.  
Walk through your own home with a buyer's perspective. Identify any areas that may need some pre-sale fixing, such as:

a. Structural and operational issues - consider having a pre-list home inspection done to identify any structural or maintenance items that may need to be addressed. As homeowners, we often 'live' with things, or overlook 'issues', until they are called out by someone else. The pre-inspection allows you to address necessary repairs without time pressures and ensures the buyers inspection contingency will be released on time.

b. Cosmetic flaws - Take one room at a time to ensure the whole house shines before buyers begin to preview.  Do a deep cleaning, touch up trim paint, wash all windows to allow in natural light.  Do the walls need a fresh coat of paint?  Do floors need refinishing?  Don't forget the exterior as well - paint, clean gutters, remove moss from the roof, power wash driveways and sidewalks.  Curb appeal is critical to entice buyers to want to see the inside. 

c. De-Clutter - Begin packing up non-essential items, collectibles, excess furniture and valuables, label them well and ensure they are stored in a safe place. Consider hiring a stager to help create a list of furnishings and accessories that would be best to put into storage and how to best position the remaining items to highlight room features and create an appealing look to potential buyers.

3. PREPARE MENTALLY FOR THE SALE.  
Begin transitioning from a mindset of 'living in this home' to letting go and preparing the home for the next homeowner.  It can be challenging to continue living in a staged home as many of your treasured belongings will be packed for the move and it may feel de-personalized.  Plan a fun getaway for the first week, or at least the weekend, your home will be on the market to allow easy access for showings, broker tours, open houses.  Also, have a plan for how you can continue to live comfortably in the home while keeping it 'Parade Ready' for last-minute showing requests.  Having a plan will help considerably in managing the stress when your home is on the market for sale.

Having taken some time to prepare for selling your home, once you have put it on the market for sale, you are in a much better position for accepting an offer, finishing the packing, arranging for movers, transfering utilities, etc. and making the move.