Waiting to Sell After the Holidays? How to Start Prepping Now to Be Ready!

Waiting to Sell After the Holidays? How to Start Prepping Now to Be Ready!

If you’re thinking of listing your home after the holidays so you can ring in the New Year in your current home, that’s completely understandable. 

But that doesn’t mean you can’t be productive and start preparing your home so you’ll be all set to put out that “For Sale” sign when you’re ready.

I always tell potential sellers to use their time wisely and to get ahead of the curve, so it’s important take advantage of any pockets of time over the weeks ahead to prep your home and your family.

Remember that you have control over what you can do in the meantime to have a distinct advantage to attract buyers who will want your home.  And don’t forget, you can also use this time to plan and prepare to buy and move into your next home too!

Getting Started!

Let’s go over some important steps that you can be taking now or well before you plan to list. That way you can ensure more smooth process once you’re ready to sell.

Get in touch with me to come up with a plan. It’s never too early to contact me since I’m here to provide guidance and strategies for getting your home sold in the timeframe that works for you, whether that’s months from now or even next year.

Keep your stress levels down with some doable preparation.  Once we have a workable plan, you should feel less stress. Don’t overdo it as you map out the weeks or months ahead, and I’ll help you come up with a schedule that works best for you and your family. You want to stay calm and be confident, especially if you will be looking for a new home too.

Start today in getting your home in tip-top shape. Tackle any projects that could make your home look its best when you do list. Use the extra downtime to be productive and work toward your goal of selling your home later this year. These efforts will be well worth it when buyers step onto your property and walk through your front door.

Stay on budget or know your potential return on investment. You may have to spend money to earn money but not all home improvements are worth it. So be careful and don’t overdo it. I can help you on this since I know what is worth it for your particular neighborhood or your potential buyers.

Set specific goals and map out a timetable with deadlines. Schedule certain times each week or month to work on prepping your home with specific tasks or DIY projects (i.e., tackle basement, paint bedroom, etc). Your timetable will depend on when you want to list it and how much will need to get done. Now is the time to get bids from outside contractors on any projects and to also get a sense of the timeframe for completion.

Prepare your property and fix what’s broken. Make a list of all the nagging items that bother you and fix them. Looking at your home with fresh and unbiased eyes right now can help. You’ll see where it needs a fresh coat of paint or discover that loose step you’ve lived with way too long. I can give you guidance on what you should spend money on if you’re uncertain.

Clear away clutter. You don’t want your home to look cramped and clogged with too many personal items. Buyers like to see more of a clean slate. Start today with paring down your belongings – sell on eBay, donate, or recycle or trash. For those items you want to keep, consider boxing them up and finding a place or purchasing a storage unit to store them, including any furniture, until your home is sold.

Make your home shine — clean like you never did before!  As you get closer to listing your home, tackle those necessary cleaning jobs or find a professional service. Focus on areas of your home that could use a good scrubbing.  You could focus on windows one week, then polishing wood floors or cleaning rugs another week. Turn to YouTube for any guidance in cleaning or prep if you’re not sure. Here’s your chance to get ahead of the, so it will really shine when you want to list it.

Make it as move-in ready as possible. Today’s buyers are not crazy about doing repairs and replacements. They do not want an immediate to-do list. We can discuss whether you should leave something “as is” or replace it. An older roof, stained carpet, or a warped fence can bring down the price or your home. Determine what is best for your sale financially, and then determine if professionals are available to work on any of these projects.

Curb appeal and the “wow” factor can sway buyers.  It’s like a beauty contest when buyers drive up. As you get closer to listing, schedule some landscaping work to make your yard look its best. This spruce-up is even important for online photos.

Let’s Come Up with a Plan

As you can see, selling your home is a “project” that takes work and planning. But it can be done and it will be so worth it once you’re in your new home. I am here to help you so you can start planning today for your future move … whatever your timeframe! 

And, if as you are prepping your home to be ready to sell in the spring, call me if you have any questions about any projects you should take on or should skip.  Plus, I have some great contractors who can help you with any projects that require more professional work.

Even if you are months or even a year away from selling, prepping your home can start right now. Reach out anytime by emailing me to talk through it all.