Listing your Kenosha County home for sale can be an exciting prospect, especially when the market is on fire. Now is the perfect time to list your home to get the “biggest bang for your buck.” Homes in the Kenosha area are selling fast and, oftentimes, above asking prices. The National Association of Realtors chief economist Lawrence Yun predicts home prices will rise by 3 percent in 2021. “The consequent rise in home prices have boosted wealth accumulation for homeowners.”
When considering hiring a real estate agent 1-2% probably doesn’t sound like a large difference but at the closing table it impacts how large your final sale check is. Here’s a handy chart to give you a better idea what you’ll save when you use a Cove realtor versus a larger brokerage.
Listing your home can require a little forethought and planning however, especially if you want the transaction to be smooth and as stress free as possible. Although the first step is always finding and working with the best real estate agents (cue Cove Realty), here are ten additional steps all homeowners should consider before listing their home.
1. Planning. There are a number of steps, projects and just plain ol’ work you will have to do to potentially get ready to list your home. A great first step is to pick a date you want to list by and work backwards from that. This will help you outline the time you need to finish last minute projects and more.
2. It’s no longer your home. Stop looking at your house as your home – it is now an asset that you are trying to sell. This focus can help you look more objectively at the details of your house. This is also a great time to ask friends, family or your Cove Realtor for their opinions on what to fix or update. Their opinions can help see imperfections you might have overlooked.
3. Money. Talk to your Cove Real Estate agent about the market and the comps in your neighborhood. Understanding what houses in your area are selling for can help you have realistic goals for your home and it can help you set the optimal listing price.
4. Find a handyman/woman and get busy. This is the time to make a list, check it twice and then get to work on projects. Fix those little problems you’ve been ignoring for years, from small cracks to running toilets. Potential buyers will notice these small, seemingly inconsequential items and it could cost you. According to the Zillow Group Report, the average seller makes 2.2 renovations or improvements to prepare to sell, and 79% of sellers make at least one home improvement. Only 21% of sellers list their home as-is.
5. Paint. Although you may love your bright orange wall or your child’s funky color selection, potential buyers might not. A fresh coat of paint will give your home a new/clean look and can help hide imperfections. Shades such as whites, light grays, and light beiges can make your home appear bigger, brighter and more inviting. According to the Zillow Group Report, 36% of sellers paint the interior before selling.
6. Clean. It’s time to spring clean, regardless of what month it is. Deep cleaning, de-cluttering and organizing can help your home look bigger, more welcoming and can help it smell better. A potential buyer wants to envision their belongings in your home and not to be distracted by your personal items and little (or big) messes. This is a perfect time to purge old, unnecessary items for your move also. Here is some great advice on how to reduce your belongings before a move.
7. Staging. There are several studies on the effect of staging when it comes to listing your home. Sprucing up your home’s appeal with strategically placed furniture and artwork can help set the stage for a buyer. Here are some great tips from Moving.com on how to stage your home on a budget.
8. Curb appeal. First impressions are important and your home’s exterior is key. Edging the lawn, planting flowers or even just an A+ snow removal and cleaning are all important to a potential buyer as they approach your home.
9. Stock up on light bulbs, cookies and candles. When listing your home, you want to showcase every amazing corner and, to do that, you need light. During a showing, you want all of your lights and lamps to be on to help your home seem more inviting and spacious. You also don’t want to have your home smelling like your pet, your dinner or, gasp, the garbage. Prior to a showing, bake some cookies or light a subtle candle.
10. Flowers and an exit plan. Special touches, prior to a showing, can go a long way. Fresh flowers or a plate of the above-mentioned cookies can add a nice welcoming touch to your home’s open house or tour. It is also important to keep your home CLEAN and in tip-top shape for any potential last-minute showings. Having an exit plan ready so your agent can bring potential buyers in for a tour is also helpful, both for you and your agent. Buyers will be substantially less inclined to really look at your home if you are on the premises. Trust your realtor to show your home off in it’s best possible light during a tour and make yourself scarce.
Now that your plan is in place and you are ready to list your home in the Kenosha area, contact Cove Realty.
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