The Honey-Do List Before You List

Everyone has encountered the "honey-do" list at one time or another in their lives. This is the list of tasks that your "honey" gives you to complete. They can range anywhere from cleaning out the gutters of your / home to picking up a gallon of milk from the store on the way home. When you are selling your home, there is a "honey-do" list of tasks you need to take care of BEFORE you list your home.

Get Your Paperwork in Order - The more information you have about past repairs, warranties on appliances and updates you've done to your / home, the easier it is for your real estate agent to know what to highlight on your listing to make it the most appealing possible. Home warranties are especially important because this information will most likely transfer on to the new owner.

Eliminate the Clutter - Depersonalizing your / home makes it easier for potential buyers to imagine themselves inhabiting the space. You can also get a jump on your packing, which will eventually need to be done anyway. Finally, de-cluttering makes a room look lighter, brighter and bigger.

Getting Down and Dirty - No matter what time of year it is, a good bit of spring cleaning is important before you list your / home. Steam clean the drapes and furniture, deep clean the carpets, scrub the grout, make your windows sparkle and move the refrigerator so you can get into the nooks and crannies where dirt likes to hide. Buyers will be looking EVERYWHERE in your home when considering whether to purchase it. Dirt, stains and bad smells (smoke and pet odors in particular) can really turn a buyer off.

Repair, Replace or (Officially) Estimate - Now is the time to really dust off that old "honey-do" list you've had folded in your pocket for months. Little repairs, like fixing a loose doorknob, replacing a ripped window screen or tightening a gate latch may seem like small potatoes to you, but they make buyers think that there might be something bigger that you haven't taken care of in the home. Get estimates for larger repairs that you are unable to take care of at this time so you can present them to a buyer, if needed. Spend the money on an official home inspection. This will allow you to see if there are any larger issues that need to be taken care of before you list. If you take care of them first, 1) a buyer will never know they existed in the first place and 2) you will be able to get a decent asking price for your / home. Keep in mind that buyers tend to overestimate repairs by as much as double the actual costs, which affects the sales price of your home.

Set the Stage - After the de-cluttering, cleaning and repairs are completed, begin staging your home. Moving furniture around to better show off certain areas of your home, adding pretty potted plants and flowers and sprucing up the exterior areas will turn your / home into a real showplace for potential buyers.

Don't put it off any longer. Take care of these items on your "honey-do" list BEFORE you list your / to sell. That way, you can get the best possible price in the least amount of time needed. When you're ready to sell or simply have some questions you need answered, just let me know.

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Originally posted on my Northern Virginia Homes real estate blog here: http://northernvirginiahomes.net/2012/05/17/the-honey-do-list-before-you-list/.