The process of selling a house is complex. You want to get it right the first time, or you may have to pay the price in lost time and money. To give yourself a headstart, make sure you do these three things BEFORE you list your house for sale.

If you are wanting to sell your home there are a few things that you will need to do before you can do this. Before you contact an estate agent, or realtor, to list your home on the market be sure to check out this guide. Potential buyers often don’t want to move into a fixer upper so make sure your home is ready for the new owners. View your home as if you were buying it all over again, if you wouldn’t want to live in it then others won’t want to buy it from you. 

Here are three things to do before you list your home for sale. 

Declutter

First and foremost you should think about doing a major overhaul and declutter each room. Decluttering helps you give the illusion of bigger rooms when people come to view your property. If your stuff is filling all the available space the rooms will appear smaller and cramped. Another key reason to declutter is that the potential buyers like to be able to envision their own belongings filling the home rather than seeing yours scattered around. 

To declutter efficiently, go to each room and create three piles. These should be the keep pile, the throwaway pile, and the items you want to sell. Selling your unwanted belongings is a great way of making money for the house move. 

Repairs 

You need to make sure your home doesn’t have any outstanding repairs that you have been putting off. These should be done before you move out so you aren’t burdening the new owners with repairs you could have done. Make sure you check out the roof, the ceilings, and the walls for any cracks or damage. If you leave a leaking roof this could cause irreversible and expensive damage. 

If you are unsure of how to fix these repairs then call in the professionals to help you. Remember that when people buy your home they will carry out a survey of the building to make sure it is structurally safe. If any major damages are reported then you may lose yourself a sale. 

Another problem that can cause extensive damage to your home is pests such as termites. They tend to like crawl spaces, so be sure to check this out before you leave. If you notice signs of pests or termites taking up residence within your home, call in the professionals for termite treatment. 

Clean

After you have decluttered and carried out all the necessary repairs you should take a while to thoroughly deep clean your property. Deep cleaning ensures you get rid of all the years worth of dust and debris that has gathered around your home.

One area that is notorious for gathering excess dust is the oven hood, make sure you give these a good wipe down. Other missed areas include light switches, plug sockets and blinds, all which easily collect dust.  Give your home a thorough clean before listing and before each viewing. 

If you don’t want to do the cleaning yourself or you worry you won’t do a good enough job, then you could hire cleaners to come in and do it for you. 

Conclusion

It is important to prepare your home for sale to present it in the best light possible. Taking the time to declutter and do necessary repairs will go a long way in attracting potential buyers.