You’re ready to embrace all the freedom that senior living provides—and it all starts with selling your home. Here are 10 expert tips on preparing a house to sell, putting a house on the market, and getting the right price. It’s all part of downsizing to newfound freedom!
Preparing a house to sell
As you look around your house, try to have fresh eyes. Look for small things that you may miss every day, but a prospective buyer might catch. For example, outdated or stained light switches. Damaged blinds or cords on window shades. Outlets that do not function. A loose doorknob. Maybe there’s an uneven step on the front porch or the mailbox doesn’t completely shut.
Take care of them now, and you won’t have to worry about it later.
Once you’ve done your own visual inspection, here are 10 tips on preparing a house to sell and putting a house on the market.
Give the new owners a bonus: your furniture.
If it’s been a long time since you purchased any new furnishings, now is a good time to give that some thought. You’ll want to feel comfortable and at home in your surroundings, and you won’t want to be burdened by oversized pieces that have served you well but won’t really fit your new space.
One idea is to offer them to the new buyers of your home; they might appreciate the convenience of not having to shop themselves (as long as your furniture is in good condition). Another idea as you are preparing a house to sell is to donate your furnishings or ask family members if they have any interest.
2. Declutter so potential buyers can see themselves living in your home.
Downsizing doesn’t have to be painful. In fact, most people find it to be an exercise in lightening the load.
The less clutter there is in your home, the more of your home a buyer can actually see, and more importantly, picture themselves enjoying. Try to clear your countertops, furniture surfaces, floors and even closets of as much as you can. You might need to stow it all temporarily in a storage unit or a friend’s garage. It’s a very important step before putting a house on the market.
Related: Tips to Make Downsizing Easier.
3. Spruce things up a bit.
Small changes can really have a big impact when it comes to preparing a house to sell and getting the price you want. For example, new lighting in the bathroom. A new faucet in the kitchen. Perhaps fresh paint on the cabinets or inside closets. No need to overspend doing this, but your efforts could go a long way to please a prospective buyer.
4.Make your curb appeal!
First impressions are very important when it comes to attracting a buyer. Be sure your lawn is in shape, bushes and shrubs trimmed, and flower beds look well maintained. Repair loose shingles. Give the front door a fresh coat of paint. You want a buyer to approach your house with excitement and anticipation, so make sure it looks good.
5. Take yourself out of the picture.
When someone looks at a new home, they want to imagine how they would feel living there, and that’s hard to do when there are family photos on the walls, school banners or memorabilia, and other personal items lying about. Add this step to your personal downsizing and remove anything that could be a distraction.
6. Make sure everything is working.
Have your furnace and air conditioning checked to confirm they are in good condition. Check your appliances and make sure they are functioning properly. Don’t forget your garage door, ceiling fans, doorbell and any other system that a prospective buyer will ask about. Preparing a house to sell is like taking an inventory: everything on the list needs to get a positive checkmark.
7. Enlist the services of an experienced realtor.
It might be tempting to think you can sell your home on your own, but using a realtor offers many benefits. A good realtor knows the market. They know the neighborhood. They understand what is selling and what is most important when showcasing a property, and they usually have recommendations for efficient downsizing. A good realtor will remember all the important details of putting a house on the market and is motivated to help you get the best price possible.
8. Show your home at its best.
Your realtor will have some ideas about this. Before an open house or a private showing, be sure to open blinds and curtains to let the light shine through your windows. Turn on as many lights as you can in each room. Double check that all personal items and any clutter is out of sight.
9. Pay attention to price.
It’s a good idea to check local listings and see which houses are selling, how long they are on the market, and their final selling price. Buyers might pass yours by if you come out of the gate with a home priced too high. If you are okay with waiting a while for an offer, that may be fine. But if you want to sell your home in a shorter time period, it’s a good idea to talk to your realtor about what price makes the most sense in the current market.
10. Remember, you’re downsizing to more freedom!
Preparing a home to sell, and then putting it on the market, is a big undertaking, but it can go easier if you keep in mind the payoff: a carefree, maintenance-free lifestyle in senior living.
Imagine your new home in an environment designed for your health and happiness, where you can do as you please, benefitting from exceptional amenites and services, a focus on lifelong wellness, personalized care when needed, and a wonderful feeling that you no longer have to worry about home maintenance: you’ve earned your freedom and it feels great!
Related: Creating Comfort: How to Make Senior Living Feel Like Home
Find your new home at PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America®)
In our network of senior living communities in Kansas, Missouri, and Colorado, you will find the care, freedom, and choice to live life at your own pace. So much to do, so many ways to make new friends—and so much peace of mind for the future!
Ready to say goodbye to home maintenance? Download a free copy of our ABCs to Downsizing or contact us to learn more and to schedule your personalized tour.
