Moving Essentials
Top 11 Ideas or Things a Homeowner Can Do to Prepare Their Home for Sale and Potentially Sell it for Top Dollar:
- Declutter and depersonalize the home. This means removing excess items and personal items from the house to make it look more spacious and less personalized. You need to allow the potential buyer to see the home’s potential without your personal items taking over the space.
- Do a thorough cleaning of the house, including deep cleaning of carpets and floors, dusting surfaces, and cleaning windows. If a home is dirty and they can’t envision themselves or their things in this space, they will not take the time to see its potential.
- Make any necessary repairs or upgrades, such as fixing leaky faucets, replacing broken tiles, and painting walls. It is very common that a homebuyer hires a home inspector who will find many things that you already need fixing. Many repairs need to be done before the home inspection, this way you will not have to stress during the process.
- Get rid of any unpleasant odors in the home, such as pet smells or cigarette smoke. It is better to take care of this and the buyer won’t have to be thinking of costly treatments or complete carpet replacement.
- Improve curb appeal by mowing the lawn, trimming hedges, and planting flowers or other plants. Many homebuyers are willing to pay more if they see that the home is move-in ready.
- Update the exterior of the house with a fresh coat of paint or by making other cosmetic improvements. You want the home to stand out and most times a fresh coat of paint does the trick.
- Consider adding a fresh coat of paint to the interior walls of the home, choosing neutral colors that will appeal to a wider range of potential buyers. Many times there is no need to paint all of the interiors, you can get away with painting the one or two vibrant rooms or spaces that we have personalized. If you don’t take care of this ahead of time, the buyer will be thinking that the whole house needs to be repainted.
- Enhance the lighting in the home by replacing outdated light fixtures with newer, more modern ones. My recommendation is to replace all of the light bulbs with higher-wattage daylight bulbs, this way the house will look bright and clean.
- Make sure all appliances are in working order, and replace any that are outdated or not functioning properly. People don’t want to think of additional costly items that they would have to potentially replace. You don’t have to buy new, there are many places that sell used appliances in very good condition and at an affordable price.
- Consult a professional real estate agent who can provide valuable insights and guidance before getting the home on the market.
- Consider hiring a professional stager to help stage the home and make it look more appealing to potential buyers. Staged homes attract more homebuyers and typically allow the property to sell for top dollar. Your real estate agent will know what to do!
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Cancellations and Transfering Bills and When Selling Your Home:
By taking the following steps, a home seller can ensure a smooth transition of bills, payments, and cancellations during the home-selling process.
- Notify utility companies: Notify your utility companies (e.g., electricity, water, gas, internet, and cable) of your move and request that they transfer the accounts to the new homeowner’s name. Provide the companies with the final meter readings on the day of closing.
- Cancel home services: If you have home services such as lawn care, house cleaning, or pest control, cancel them and notify the service providers of your move.
- Contact your bank and credit card companies: Notify your bank and credit card companies of your change of address and update your account information.
- Cancel subscriptions and memberships: Cancel any magazine subscriptions, gym memberships, or other memberships that you won’t be using after the move.
- Forward mail: File a change of address with the post office to forward your mail to your new address.
- Update your address with other organizations: Update your address with the DMV, your employer, your insurance providers, and any other organizations that need to know your new address.
- Cancel or transfer insurance policies: Cancel your homeowners’ insurance policy and any other policies associated with the property. If you’re moving to a new home, transfer your homeowners’ insurance policy to the new property.
- Notify your children’s school: If you have school-aged children, notify their school of the move and request that they transfer their academic records to their new school.
- Research new schools: If you’re moving to a new area, research schools in the new location to determine which ones may be the best fit for your children.
- Notify your employer: If you’re moving to a new location that will impact your commute or job responsibilities, notify your employer of your move and any changes that may be needed.
- Inform your friends and family: Notify your friends and family of your move and provide them with your new contact information.
- Host a goodbye party: Consider hosting a goodbye party or gathering to say farewell to your friends and neighbors and to thank them for their support.
- Join local social groups: Once you’ve moved to your new location, join local social groups or organizations to meet new people and establish connections in your new community.
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