Spring is almost here, and that means the Southern Maryland home-selling season is coming soon. You only get one chance to make a good first impression in real estate, and if you want to stand out from the competition and sell quickly, your house needs to go on the market in tip-top shape.
The days on the market start ticking as soon as your home listing goes live. In the Internet age, Southern Maryland home buyers have access to a lot of up-to-date information. They will definitely punish any seller whose house has been on the market for many months. If you can’t ensure that your home is in its best condition, hold off on listing it until it is ready.
You’ll need more than a weekend to prep your house for sale. It takes thoughtful planning and time. If you’re planning to sell your Southern Maryland house this spring, take these four steps now.
Get an Inspection
It seems counter intuitive to spend your cash on a property inspection, but you need to know the condition of your home. If there are issues – big or small – you want to know now so that you can address them or account for them in a lower listing price.
The last thing you want is for the home buyer to find flaws in your home once it’s under contract. An inspection before you list will let you know if the furnace is nearly dead or if your roof is bad. Wait for the buyer’s inspection, and you risk paying more for repairs than if you had taken care of them before listing.
Less is More
When it’s time to sell, start thinking of your home as an investment and look at it through the eyes of a potential buyer. In this case, less is always more.
Put away personal items and big furniture. Store anything you won’t be using until you move. Keep the things you will need, but stash the rest. Allow buyers to picture themselves living there.
Make Cosmetic Improvements
It is common for home sellers to make cosmetic improvements before they list their homes. Bathrooms and kitchens sell Southern Maryland houses. Clean the grout around tiles, and give walls a fresh coat of paint. This enables potential buyers to imagine how they can adapt a room to their lifestyle.
While we’re talking color – now is the time to take your wall colors down a notch. You may love lime green in the bedroom, but that is not everyone’s style. Neutral is always better because it appeals to a wider range of buyers.
Other improvements to consider include painting kitchen cabinets, cleaning rugs, or refinishing hardwood floors. Not sure who to hire to do the work? Ask your real estate agent and friends for referrals. There are many inexpensive Southern Maryland contractors who can help you spruce up your home quickly.
Do Your Research
Today’s home buyers research, and most of them will do all the investigating on your house that they can. Now is the time to check with your local building department and make sure there are no unresolved issues with your house.
Verify that property records accurately reflect your house and prepare to fix any inconsistencies. Make sure your title report is clean and discuss potential disclosure items with your agent. Banks will not lend if there are unresolved issues, and you don’t want to have to jump through hoops at the last minute. Do your research now, and you’ll be a step ahead of home buyers.
Selling your Southern Maryland house is likely to be one of your largest financial transactions. Get a real estate agent on your side early, and make a list of the tasks you need to complete before listing your home this spring. A good strategy and smart planning will ensure a profitable, quick. and painless home sale.
White Plains MD Homes for Sale and Real Estate Services in Southern Maryland. You now have a search engine to help you with your Southern Maryland home search! And I’m ready to provide you with a custom home valuation if you’re considering selling your home. Let’s connect to discuss how I can help you. Contact Kimberly Bean at 301-440-1309
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