If you are considering listing your house in the near future, the steps that you take now can set the conditions for success when your house is on the market. Here are some of the steps that you can take if you are about to put your house up for sale in St. Louis.
Research the Market
If you are going to set an asking price, you need to be familiar with the market in St. Louis. You should find comparable homes in your neighborhood that have recently sold and note the prices. In addition, you should try to find the real estate listings for those homes that should still be available online to see their statistics, layout and general condition. Also, take a look at the general conditions in the St. Louis real estate market. You should research and note any trends that could affect housing prices. Finally, you should track how long the average home is on the market so you can know what to expect when you put your house up for sale. A real estate agent can help you keep tabs on the marketplace.
Fix All of the Minor Issues
Small imperfections and issues do not cost that much to fix. However, to the extent that they are noticeable during a showing, they will color potential buyers' opinion of your home. This will be reflected in how many offers you receive and how good those offers are. Hire a handyman to fix all of the issues at once. By fixing them at the same time, you will likely get a better price from the handyman. In any event, these problems will likely come up on a home inspection if they are not fixed, making it better to address them now.
Remove All Clutter
While you want buyers to be able to picture your home as their own, you also do not want it be overrun with your clutter. This makes a house look messy, scaring potential buyers away in the process. Even if you simply transport your excess property to storage during the selling process, it will have an immeasurable impact on how your home looks. You want buyers to be able to picture themselves living in your home as opposed to being distracted by all of the clutter that they see. If you are able to get rid of some clutter, it will will help you even more when it is time to move to a new home.
Take Great Pictures
The photographs of your home that accompany the listing will be what draws people to come to your house to take a look. It is important that these images are as professional as possible. Consider hiring a photographer to take these pictures in order to portray your home in the best possible light. In any event, you should stay away from pictures taken on your cell phone since they may not have the level of professionalism that is necessary for these pictures. These pictures should be high resolution photos that show how your home looks in the sunlight. Your real estate agent can help you find the right photographer.
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