Preparing to Sell Your House This Spring

Are you thinking about selling your house this spring? March through May are often busy months in the real estate market in the Pittsburgh area, which means if you are planning on selling your home within the next few weeks or months, the time to get ready to prepare your home to sell is now.

Below is a quick checklist of things you should do before putting your home up for sale this spring:

1. Get Rid of Anything You Don’t Need: No, we’re not just saying this because we’re a junk removal company. Having too much clutter, a garage or basement piled high with items you don’t need or use, or any debris in your yard can really turn potential buyers away, costing you precious time and money as your home stays on the market longer. A buyer should be focused on the selling points of your home – not how much stuff you have! Having cluttered rooms or too much furniture can also make a large room seem much smaller than it actually is. You can donate items to charity, sell them, or you can always contact us to haul it away for you. Getting rid of things you don’t need can also save you money on moving and storage fees.

2. Give the Home a Thorough Cleaning: Cleaning might not be a lot of fun, but it is important that you give your home a thorough cleaning in order to make it outshine the competition. Beyond the basics of washing windows, dusting, mopping, and vacuuming, you will also want to make sure you give attention to small details such as your appliances, doors, and baseboards.

3. Consider a Fresh Coat of Paint: A freshly painted room instantly looks better. Neutral colors such as beige and tan seem to be the most appealing to home buyers, so if you have rooms that are bright vibrant colors you may want to tone them down a little to make your home seem like a blank canvas for potential buyers to decorate.

4. Clean Up the Outside: The way your home looks from the street, also known as curb appeal, can also help attract more buyers to your home. Many promotional materials for selling a home include outdoor pictures, so you will want to make sure the outside of your home looks its best. Make sure your walkways are in good shape, any shrubs are taken care of, and that any debris or unwanted items in your yard or on a deck and porch have been cleaned up also.

5. Consider a Home Inspection: Almost all buyers will request a home inspection when putting an offer on your home. Having a pre-inspected home can help save you unexpected surprises and make repairs early on your terms and budget, as well as stronger negotiating power when the home goes under contract.

6. Interview Agents With Care: There are hundreds of real estate agents in the Pittsburgh area. You will want to make sure when you are interviewing agents to sell your home that you ask them important questions such as their experience, the technology they use, their marketing plan, and how they will communicate with you. Don’t choose an agent just because they think they can sell your home for more than the other agents you’ve talked to – the listing price alone is not as important as your level of satisfaction of service you receive and the agent’s knowledge and negotiating experience. If you plan on selling your home “for sale by owner” or FSBO, be sure you speak to a real estate attorney to make sure all aspects of selling your home are covered.

Approximately 5000+ homes sold in Western Pennsylvania in just 30 days or less according to WPML statistics. Doing these things listed above can help make sure your home sells this spring in the least amount of time for the best possible price.

And of course, if you need help removing items you don’t want from your home before placing it for sale, feel free to call us at 412-848-1388 or use our contact form to request more information and set up an appointment. We’d be happy to help you get rid of unwanted items and sell your home successfully.