Are you preparing to sell your house? Then roll up your sleeves and get started because you have plenty to do before you list the home.
Selling a house entails more than putting up a “For Sale” sign on the front lawn or uploading photos of the property online. So, peruse this checklist of what to do before you sell real estate in Georgia.
Some tips are easy, while others require a bit more work. However, all the tips will pay off once buyers admire your property—and hopefully bring you a magnificent offer!
Work With a Georgia Real Estate Agent
It is easy to assume you can sell your home yourself and pocket the money you would pay the real estate agent. Tempting as it is, especially in the hot Georgian market, resist the urge.
A “for sale by owner” transaction exposes you to plenty of risks. Further, you will sacrifice your time and money. One of the critical things you should do before selling real estate is to find a local real estate agent.
However, do not hire any real estate agent you come across. Carry out some research to find out if the real estate agent is the right fit for you. Plus, make sure the agent is knowledgeable about the local market.
The real estate agent you pick should be a company or individual you are comfortable working with. Your agent will expose your property to a broad audience and negotiate on your behalf so you get the best offers possible.
Going it alone means you prep the property, market it, review offers, and handle all negotiations and closing details.
Consider Curb Appeal
Whether good or bad, property buyers will evaluate a book by its cover. Make sure the first impression buyers have of your home is excellent. It should also inspire them to schedule a tour or stop by to see more.
Consider doing relatively easy fixes before you place the home on a property for sale in Georgia list. Some fixes include repainting the front door, growing colorful flowers, and refurbishing the front yard.
Are you lacking ideas on how to improve your property’s curb appeal? Your real estate agent can offer ideas on what others in your location are doing to improve curb appeal.
Declutter Your Living Areas
Before you get your home ready to show, less is more!
Do a thorough clean of all visible areas, including tables, windowsills, and counters. Next, tackle areas behind closed doors, such as cupboards, drawers, and closets. Remember, no area is off-limits when potential homebuyers are looking at properties.
Avoid the temptation to leave your stuff lying all over the home. Homebuyers may worry that your house does not have enough space for their belongings. Plus, many potential buyers will not purchase the property if they think they have to rent storage space as well.
Instead, consider taking your excess stuff and donating it or packing it up for storage in an off-site location. Clearing clutter helps make the house more appealing and will also help you when you need to move into a new home after a successful sale, according to timstoutteam.com.
Remove Personal Items
The next item on your tips before you sell real estate in Georgia is depersonalizing your home. You should remove distractions so a would-be buyer visualizes themselves and their family living on the property.
Your task involves removing family photos and personal items when showing the house. Other objects you should also remove are furniture and bold artwork that may be unappealing to most people. What you want to provide is a blank canvas the buyers can visualize living in and loving it!
Use Neutral Tones on Walls
The red accent wall might be your favorite background. If the paint color is your buyer’s least favorite color, then chances are that it will be a big turnoff.
Play it safe by painting a neutral color. After all, it is rare buyers looking at homes for sale in Georgia will find the tone offending. The light color also allows the buyer to visualize what the walls look like with their favorite hues.
Your job is to help the property buyers picture themselves living in the home. They will probably consider other real estate options if they do not feel at home.
Gather Your Paperwork
Proper home sale requires plenty of paperwork. Organize it to ensure things go smoothly.
Some documents you need to have ready in one place include:
- Certificates of compliance with local codes, certificate of occupancy, and property survey
- Tax records
- Homeowner’s insurance
- Mortgage documents
- The original purchase contract
- Home inspection report
Carry Out a Pre-Listing Inspection
It is always an excellent idea to have a professional home inspector perform an inspection of the property before putting it on the market. The inspector you hire should be a member of the National Institute of Building Inspectors (NIBI) or the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI).
Whether this is the first or ninth time a buyer is purchasing land for sale in Georgia, they may make an offer contingent on an acceptable home inspection.
Home inspectors will find a few issues with a home, even new constructions. They might not have experience if they cannot find at least a few minor issues.
Completing the pre-listing inspection offers you time to address the issues the inspector finds. Make sure you receive a detailed report and pictures that relate to anything that requires your attention.
You should also consider other inspections before selling your property. Some inspections buyers may require include:
- Pest
- Septic
- Radon
- Chimney
- Well water
Conclusion
If a friend, relative, colleague, or realtor suggests that selling a home is fun, they are not being upfront. Selling a home is an inconvenience that can cause anxiety and stress. However, you can minimize these feelings with proper preparation and well-crafted decisions.
Consider the tips above before you sell real estate in Georgia. Following them will help maximize your property’s appeal, which translates into a seamless closing—and more money in the bank!