As y’all may have noticed, the real estate market has slowed down a bit this fall - which is completely normal this time of year! Also to be expected? Things picking back up in the spring (which, in the real estate world, starts in February believe it or not!). That means if you’re wanting to sell your home this spring - and have a fast sale with a big return - you should actually start prepping now.
The winter is the perfect time to plan ahead, clear through clutter, do repairs or renovations, and get a step ahead of all the others waiting until the spring to start! This will help you stand out and ensure you can get on the market early. To help you out, we’ve put together a list of some things you can do these next couple of months as you prepare to list in 2024…
Declutter & Depersonalize
All that time at home this holiday season just begs for home projects that can keep you (or your kids!) busy before school starts again. That makes it the perfect time to declutter your space! Go through those drawers no one ever opens, clear out those over-packed closets, and donate your unused items to help out those in need this time of year.
You’ll also want to depersonalize your space (although we recommend waiting until closer to listing for this step!). Buyers need to be able to envision themselves living there, so it’s best to neutralize the decor and create a clean, spacious environment as much as you can.
Conduct Repairs & Minor Upgrades
We’ll never tell our clients to spend more than absolutely necessary to improve their home before selling, but there are some things you might want to consider fixing ahead of time - like any visible issues such as leaky faucets, peeling paint, or broken fixtures. Addressing these early prevents them from becoming negotiating points during the sale.
We also recommend making minor, cost-effective upgrades that add value to your home - such as updating hardware, refreshing paint, or replacing outdated light fixtures. These small changes can have a big impact on a buyer's perception of your home, helping you sell faster and for more money! Of course there might be larger renovations you need to make too, so we recommend meeting with a professional to help you decide - and getting those started as early as possible! They almost always take longer than you think.
Enhance Curb Appeal
As much as people say not to, most people do judge a book by its cover. So first impressions matter! And when you’re selling, that means the exterior of your home… Invest in landscaping, clean up the yard, add fresh mulch, and consider a new coat of paint for the front door. It’s great to plan ahead for this, but we also recommend saving this step until closer to listing so your home is in tip-top shape!
Consider a Pre-listing Inspection
Doing a pre-listing inspection as a seller gives you the opportunity to identify and address any major issues before selling, which helps prevent surprises during listing! Nobody wants that, so if you’re the type to be extra-prepared, we recommend doing this step. And if you need a rec for someone great to do it in the Triangle area, let us know! We have some amazing service provider connections we’d love to put you in touch with.
Work with Your Real Estate Agent Early
As always, it’s important to find the perfect Real Estate Agent for you - to help you through the entire listing process (including the prep work!) - and it’s equally as essential to get started with them early (as in NOW). Working with a trusted real estate pro will give you confidence in the decisions you’re making for repairs, renovations, and upgrades, plus they’ll help you put together a strategy for marketing, staging, photos, and listing so that you get the most bang for your buck!
This is what we pride ourselves on at Shenendoah Realty - helping our clients make more money, faster and easier, than others in our area. We’ll help you make smart decisions about your home, give you recommendations for what to do (and who to do it with), provide top-notch staging (using fine art from the local Frank Gallery), and utilize our fool-proof pricing and marketing strategy to get your home sold quickly, with lots of offers, and over asking price.
We offer free in-home consultations for anyone considering selling and wanting help deciding what needs to be done; plus a free virtual brainstorming session with our team to discuss the real estate market, when to sell, and if we’d be a good fit. If you’re considering selling, we’d love to chat with you! Schedule your free virtual session Here:
Or email us at [email protected] to talk in more detail or schedule an in-home consultation! We’re here to support you however we can.
