Tips for Home Sellers

Getting ready to sell your home can feel like a whirlwind. There are so many things to do, and while you’re likely to check all the major tasks off your to-do list — like cleaning and getting your listing photos taken — there are some smaller tasks that might fall through the cracks. But those small to-do’s can actually make a big difference in your home sale, so it’s important not to forget them. For example:

Account for improvements and issues. If you’ve made any improvements to your home (like installing a new roof or HVAC) or had to fix any issues (like like a clogged sewer line), make sure to list them all out. When you sell your home, it’s important to disclose those things to the buyer; not only will the improvements make them feel better about their home purchase, but disclosing the issues — and how you fixed them — can help you avoid potential liability after the sale.

Make sure the doorbell rings. If you don’t use your doorbell regularly, do a quick check and make sure it’s functional and that it actually rings when someone uses it. Most buyers (or at least their agents) will press the doorbell before just walking into the house, and if it’s not working, it could make them think that other things in the house won’t work either. (Not the best first impression!)

Clarify what items are not included. Technically, anything that is bolted to the walls or ceiling is included in the home purchase, unless the contract states otherwise. As such, you want to be crystal clear from the get-go about what’s not included in your listing; otherwise, a potential buyer might fall in love with your custom chandelier, and might walk away from the deal when they find out you’re taking your light fixture with you to your new home.

And, of course, it should go without mentioning, but there’s no substitute for a good, thorough cleaning to create an aroma that will appeal to any and all buyers.

There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to selling your home — and for many sellers, those moving parts can cause a good amount of stress. But what are the most stressful parts of the home selling process? According to a survey from LendingTree, some of the top stressors for home sellers include:

• Buying and selling a home at the same time. 29 percent of home sellers surveyed named trying to buy a new home at the same time as trying to sell their current home as the biggest stressor in the home selling process.
• Making costly repairs or upgrades. Depending on the condition of your home, you may need to shell out some cash on repairs or upgrades before you list—a process that 16 percent of buyers said was the most stressful part of the home selling process.
• Fearing the home won’t sell. Even though a lack of inventory is making the market more favorable for sellers, 15 percent of sellers surveyed said that the fear their home won’t sell was the most stressful part of the home selling process.
• Balancing advice from multiple sources. Your friends, family, and neighbors might mean well when they share advice on what you should and shouldn’t do during the home selling process—but 13 percent of those surveyed said fielding advice from multiple sources was the most stressful part of selling their home.

So, what does this mean for you? If you’re stressed out about selling your house, you’re not alone. In fact, it’s normal. But, the more you know about the potential stressors of the home selling process, the better prepared you can be to deal with those stressors — and the less stressful your home sale will be as a result.

Check out my resources for home sellers — you’ll find everything you need to navigate the home selling process.

True or false? When you’re selling your home, you should bake cookies before a showing or an open house. After all, who doesn’t like the smell of freshly baked cookies? Well, it isn’t like you can Betty Crocker your way to a sale, let alone at the highest price possible. Your entire house still needs to be appealing.

A batch of cookies isn’t going to hide bad odors enough or divert people’s attention from a messy house that needs repairs. Nor will a cookie-scented candle or plug-in air freshener.

In fact, some candles and plug-in fresheners can actually turn a buyer off — and may trigger curiosity about what odor the seller is trying to hide. However, there is one smell that will help your house sell… It’s called “clean.”

When you’re selling your house, there’s no substitute for a good, thorough cleaning to create an aroma that will appeal to any and all buyers. Whether you do it on your own, or hire a professional cleaning service, giving your house a good deep cleaning before (and while) your house is on the market is one of the most important things you can do.