Tara’s Real Estate Hacks: 10 Important Things To Do Before Selling Your Los Angeles Home

Are you thinking of selling your house soon? Selling a home may seem like a common occurrence, but it sure entails a lot more than just putting up a “For Sale” sign on your front lawn and blasting a few random photos of your place on your socials. After all, most sellers are angling for the most cash (I mean, who doesn’t?), and we all know that we can’t achieve success overnight!

Before going through the “dreary” process of putting your house on the market, you may want to wade through this checklist of things to consider while preparing to sell first. Some of these tips may require a bit more elbow grease, but they’re bound to pay off once buyers start to flock over your place (hopefully with masks on!)– springing up irresistible offers!

Search for your ideal real estate agent

Think you can sell your home yourself and pocket the cash you’d pay a real estate specialist? It can be tempting but resist the urge. Most “For Sale with Owner” deals turn out to be a disaster, and it can entail you spending more money and time. That said, it’s also vital to do some research to find the real estate agent best fit for your specific market, to make sure that he or she will be someone you’ll feel comfortable working with, whom you’ll trust to sell your home top dollar.

Curb appeal is important

Whether we admit it or not, buyers do tend to judge our home by the way we present it. A seller must make sure that the potential buyer’s first impression of their home is a positive one– to the point that it inspires them to stop by the open house or schedule a tour TO SEE MORE. Invest some effort in easy fixes, like planting colorful flowers or repainting the exterior of your home, and instantly improve your home’s curb appeal!

Declutter your living areas

Nothing is off-limits for curious buyers, so it’s important to do a clean sweep of counters, windowsills, tables, and all other visible areas, and tackle things behind closed doors: closets, drawers, and cupboards. If your home is overflowing with stuff, it may seem like it won’t have ample space for the buyers’ belongings, and this may cancel any potential sale. Less is more when it comes to getting your house ready to show, and clearing clutter will help your it look more appealing and offer-worthy!

Depersonalize your space

Remove any distractions inside your home to help potential buyers visualize themselves and their families living in that property. Personal items like family photos, bold artwork, and furniture that might make the home less appealing should be removed to accomplish the goal of making your house look like a blank canvas.

Repaint with neutral hues

Bold colors may be a potential buyer’s turnoff, so it’s safer to repaint your walls to a neutral tone. Always remember that a light color allows buyers to envision what the walls would look like with the color of their choice, and it’s the seller’s job to help the buyers picture themselves living in the house.

Touch up those scuff marks

Pay special attention to scrubbing and touching up baseboards, walls, and doors to make the house look cared-for. Selling a home with lots of small repairs and little problems can be difficult, and a seller must make buyers fall in love with the house and not add a bunch of small repairs to their to-do list. Impress those buyers and fix up your home before putting it on the market.

Fix anything loose

Loose handles may seem like a small thing, but you’d be surprised at how a minor detail can have a huge impact on a buyer’s opinion of your home. Submitting an offer and committing to a mortgage is a big deal for any buyer, and sellers shouldn’t give them any doubt that their house will make a great home.

Plants, plants, plants

Green is good, especially when staging your home. Plants create a bright and more welcoming environment, and adding these natural elements bring extra color and life to your decor– something that will surely impress potential buyers!

Smell test is key

Even the slightest foul odors can be a deal-breaker, and the problem is you might not even notice them! Get an unbiased third party to detect any pet smells or lingering odors from your kitchen. Prepare to do some deep cleaning if smells are pervasive, as some “masking techniques” like candles or plug-in room deodorizers may backfire, especially if the buyer doesn’t like your chosen scent.

Hide your valuables

Make sure your treasures are locked up or stored off-site. Remember that not everyone who comes into your home can be trusted, even when you’re trying to sell it. There are times when some things disappear during an open house, and frankly, there’s little the seller can do to get those things back. Hide your valuables, and move them to a safer space away from your home in the meantime.