Preparing To Sell Your Home in 2025! Read on...

Steps to Prepare Your House to Sell in 2025

If you are like me, many of us are looking forward to spring after the particularly cold winter we’ve experienced. In addition to the arrival of the sugar maple harvest and early bloomers such as tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and pansies, spring also heralds the beginning of the busiest real estate season of the year. If you plan to sell your home this spring, it's essential to begin preparing now.

Here are some key steps to consider before listing your home this spring:

1.   When To List

Motivation and timing are the two most crucial factors when selling your home. If you need to sell for reasons such as a job relocation, the time of year becomes less significant. However, if you have flexibility in your timing, such as when choosing to downsize, it would be wise to wait for the most active buying and selling periods, which historically occur in the spring and early summer, as well as fall.

2.   Thoroughly clean your home from top to bottom

Thorough cleaning is a crucial step in preparing your home for sale. In addition to vacuuming and dusting, ensure you steam-clean wall-to-wall carpets, particularly if you have pets. Wash and polish hardwood floors, clear out dryer vents, and thoroughly clean the dishwasher, range top, refrigerator, and oven. Even consider washing the windows if the weather allows. Short on time? Consider hiring a qualified cleaning service. Some companies in the Upper Valley specialize in move-in and move-out services. A deep cleaning will demonstrate to potential buyers that you take pride in your home.

3.   Start packing

Decluttering and organizing non-essential items can make your house feel more spacious and save time when you’re ready to move. It's crucial to help potential buyers envision themselves in your space. Check the attic, basement, closets, cabinets, and garage. You might consider hiring an auctioneer to sell items you no longer need. There are also consignment and used furniture outlets in the Upper Valley.

Additionally, think about donating items to Listen or Cover. Listen provides essential services, including food, heating, and housing assistance, funded by the sale of donated goods and grants. Cover Store utilizes donated items and profits from sales to provide maintenance and upkeep for the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and families of limited means.

4.   Conduct a house inspection

Conducting your own house inspection can help identify potential issues and allow you to take necessary actions to address them. Consider updates such as repainting rooms in neutral colors, replacing worn carpeting, and repairing cracked windows.

The fewer objections a buyer has, the better your chances of a successful sale. Although leaky faucets, chipped paint, running toilets, and squeaky doors may seem like minor problems, they can indicate to potential buyers that your home has not been well-maintained.

5.   Spruce up curb appeal

Enhancing your home's curb appeal is crucial before listing it for sale. Ninety-two percent of REALTORS® recommend that sellers enhance their home's exterior appearance before placing the house on the market. The exterior is the first impression buyers have upon arrival, and, as the saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Simple updates, such as painting or replacing the front door, regularly mowing and weeding the lawn, trimming overgrown shrubs and trees, keeping walkways clear of snow, and repairing cracked walkways, can significantly enhance your home's curb appeal.

6.     Hire a REALTOR®

An experienced and well-connected REALTOR® will serve as your trusted fiduciary guide throughout the selling process, from developing an initial marketing strategy to finalizing the closing. A carefully crafted marketing plan attracts qualified buyers, ensuring your home sells for the best possible price in the shortest time frame possible while providing you with confidence throughout the selling process.

7.   Prep the home when it comes time to show

Open the curtains and blinds, turn on all the lights, and ensure your walkway and entrance steps are clear of snow. Add flowers in vases or a bowl of fruit in the kitchen to foster a welcoming atmosphere. However, don't go overboard; buyers might think you're trying to hide something if the entire house smells like freshly baked cookies!

Image: Photo by Chuck Wallace