In anything that you do, being well-prepared pays off in the end. This also applies to home selling or real estate in general. It is always better to fix your house even on a budget than leaving it as it is and end up getting lower bids.
Part of the preparations is fixing the main parts of the house. A round of home inspection is important to identify which ones need repairs. Take note that major renovations do not always convert to getting higher bids so be prudent.
After the home inspection, you can then start by setting a budget. If you don't have much, the most basic fixes can include repairing leaking pipes, gutters, roofs and air conditioning/heating systems, repainting the roofs, ceilings and walls, or replacing wallpaper, chipped tiles and dated appliances and furnishings.
Once you're done with these repairs, it's time clean up and organize the home. If you have pets, you can relocate them outside the house a few days before scheduled buyer visits. You may not be aware of it but pet smell can turn off buyers so make sure that you don't only clean but freshen up the whole place. If there are children, you can ask them to help by organizing their rooms as well. De-clutter all the other rooms including the garage, basement and attic.
When the house has been repaired, cleaned and organized, it's time to turn to expert help. Home staging can be valuable during off-season. It is more than just decorating the house. It is creating an illusion of a good lifestyle by adding up a few interesting details to the house set-up. It is like they're "dressing up" the house to make it look more attractive and entice the buyer to make considerations.
Hiring a home stager is the seller's option but the artistry of these professionals can help your property move when it is a slow market or when it's already vacant. Sometimes buyers need a little nudge to realize that the real estate property they're looking for is actually already in front of them.
A home stager knows several secrets of the trade. They can make a small room seem bigger, make a gloomy room brighter, arrange furnishing that can make the room seem fancy even with sparse items and many more. They can also set the mood of your home, from simple but stunning to modern but romantic to warm and inviting.
The home stager can use even the simplest of items to spruce up a drab space. Stagers are professional artists after all and they can help well in your home sale. Their fee depends on the location of the real estate property, the current demand for stagers and the number of rooms to be staged.
So remember that there are basic steps to take to maximize your home's resale value. Do basic repairs, replace old and worn-out appliances, floor and wall coverings, update furnishings, install latest systems, add up on lighting, polish wood furniture, repaint peeling walls, get rid of pet smell, organize the rooms and keep the house spic and span.
And if you think that a home staging is necessary, add it up to your budget as well.
