In Chatham, Durham and Orange County, it’s common for homes to sit on the market for about a week before going under contract. This period only tracks from when a house is listed to when it goes under contract; it does not include the significant amount of time and effort that is actually put into a property to get it ready for listing! According to Rocket Mortgage, as of March 2023, it can take an average of 54 days to prep a home. And #sorrynotsorry, but Rocket Mortgage isn’t right about everything, so it’s probably longer than that.
But, don’t sweat… We’re here to help get you started! Before listing your home, you’ll want to think about (and work on) the following:
Getting Organized
One of the first things you should do to get a home in selling condition is DECLUTTER. You’d be surprised by how much stuff you’ve accumulated over the years, even if you only lived there for a short period of time. This is partly due to the memories and emotions objects can have on us (we’re only human, right?!) and partly from the vast amount of just plain stuff our kids, partners, friends, family, racoons, and anyone else that walks in our home leaves along the way.
No matter what state your home is in, to get it ready for market, you will need to prioritize belongings and decide what possessions really need to go with you to your next chapter (and which you can - and probably already should have - dump).
The best way to start the decluttering process is to divide your home into sections (i.e., garage, master bedroom, kitchen, etc.) This will help minimize those overwhelmed and anxious feelings we all get when starting an organization project (or maybe that’s just me?). We also recommend focusing on the areas in each room where eyes are immediately drawn to, like kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, windows (inside and out), walls, baseboards, doors.
Repairs
After decluttering, it’s time to do repairs. We always tell our clients that you don’t have to completely remodel a home; instead, we recommend doing the minimum work to get the MAXimum amount of money (work smarter, not harder!). And, as noted in Remodeling Magazine’s “Cost vs. Value” analysis, there are a couple exterior projects that have the highest payoff with regard to resale value, so you might want to consider those first…
Landscaping. The exterior appearance of a home is the first thing buyers see when they approach the property. A well-landscaped yard can create a positive and inviting first impression, setting the tone for the rest of the home tour.
Exterior doors. You will want to make sure all dings and dents in exterior doors are repaired, and modern hardware is applied. We also like to have our clients make sure garage door remotes are working correctly and safety codes are up-to-date.
YES to all that, Remodeling Mag, but also – I find that for every dollar my clients spend on SMART renos, they get at LEAST two back. And that’s on the low end. HUGE asterisk here on “smart” reno – you can’t expect the same return for bad design…which is why people hire me. It can help you not only LOSE money from putting it into poor reno choices, but MAKE money by helping you understand what buyers are paying for right now.
Detailed Floor Plans
You usually need to hire a professional for this (we’ve got your back on that if you list with us! We hire the best in the biz and pay for it), but these plans offer a clear visual representation of your home's layout and provide accurate measurements, which can help buyers determine whether or not they can comfortably live there.
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