6 Steps to Preparing Your Marin County Home for Sale

You can have a well-loved family home or a luxury property and the methods used to prepare for the market are all the same. This includes cleaning, staging, and repairs. It takes prioritization and all depends on your budget and what you are willing and able to do to get ready. Why is it so important to do all this work before you list your home? 

You're looking to make the best impression you can on the potential buyer, and the best way to do that is to present the best house possible. Putting in the due diligence ensures a smooth transition for you as you move your belongings from the home, prepare your listing materials and close on the sale. This list is a guide to taking the steps you need to prepare your home for sale with as little stress as possible. I am here to guide you through the process.

Whether it’s natural wear and tear or more costly repairs, taking care of them ahead of time is a good idea. Not only will your home appeal better to buyers if they have less work to do upon purchase, but you'll also be avoiding any turn-offs which could affect the sale. It's simple to replace lightbulbs, touch up paint and replace fixtures, but that's not the extent of updates you can make. For the best assessment of the repairs your home needs, it's best to bring in a professional. A pre-inspection can help you understand which repairs you need to make to get your home in the best condition possible. Even if they catch repairs that will cost you more time, it'll pay dividends upon closing.

Now is also the best time to repaint over bold wall colors, which have proven to be unattractive to potential buyers. Opt for shades of ivory, cream, and eggshell in a neutral palette. Using a shade of white helps make the home feel spacious, airy, and inviting. You want your buyer to feel as if they can make the space their own, which is a lot easier when your favorite shade isn't intruding on their vision. 

One of the hardest things about selling your home is saying goodbye. Fond memories of events, gatherings, and achievements adorn every room. You've lived a piece of your life here, and now it's time to say goodbye. 

Now is a great time to declutter your home and your life of unwanted belongings and donate them. Paring down your furniture, decor, and excess possessions will free up more space inside your home. This is helpful for a variety of reasons. A more spacious, uncluttered home is easier to clean and more aesthetically pleasing for listing photos and showings. Seeing an immaculate, uncluttered environment helps your buyer imagine themselves living their life inside the home. 

Remember, buyers are taking every detail of your home's appearance into account during the decision to buy. If there's no space for them to see themselves making their morning coffee in the kitchen, they'll move on to another property.

Some people enjoy getting down and dirty cleaning every nook and cranny of their home, but odds are you aren't one of them. But this doesn't mean that your home won't need a good cleaning. This means top to bottom, ceilings, ceiling fans, walls, floors, inside cabinets, and more. If you haven't thought to clean it in a while, now is the time. Hiring a professional cleaning company is likely the most helpful for taking your time into consideration. Not only are you saving yourself the elbow grease, but you'll be ensuring that your home is properly clean. 

Before hiring a cleaner, there are a few key things you'll want to know about them before allowing them into your space. First, make sure they're insured and bonded should they break any of your belongings. Second, know what services you're requesting, as well as whether they usually complete these services. Third, know whether or not they use their own supplies. If the cleaning company doesn't meet these points, it's best to pass and find another company that does.

The exterior of your home is the first thing a potential buyer notices. They'll pull up and scrutinize the quality of the yard, front door, mailbox, and siding, at the least. Imagine yourself as your prospective buyer and take a look at the outside of your house. Can you clean up the siding to make it appear more pristine? Would replacing the address numbers with upgrades make the appearance more modern? 

If there are changes you would make, it's likely you'll benefit from making those updates for the buyer. If there are any unique views or outdoor features that set the home apart from the rest of the neighborhood, this is a place where they can shine. Emphasize the home’s possibilities with a first glance at the exterior.

You may or may not have an attachment to the furnishings in your home. Some choose to leave everything behind and start anew, selling the house with everything inside. Others take all their belongings with them. Wherever you fall on the spectrum, it's important to have a plan for what you'd like to do. 

If you are planning to move everything, there are a few decisions you need to make. To stage or not to stage? While it would save you time to not bother bringing furniture back into the space, it could be a factor in the sale. Interior designers are familiar with current design trends, which can help your home appear modern in style. Having some type of furnishings in the home makes it easier for your buyer to see themselves in it, even if the furniture isn't included in the home.

When you're looking to sell your home, you have the option of going through the entire sales process by yourself or with a professional. There are jobs for which you can hire help, and doing so makes your life a little more stress-free. When it comes to real estate and selling your home, it's advantageous to work with someone who knows all the ins and outs of the industry. 

Choosing the right real estate agent can be the make-or-break factor in how well your home sells, and for what price. An experienced agent will know how best to position your home against the competition and help clients envision themselves in your property. Your ideal agent will be a professional who has a familiarity with selling Marin County properties. They will recognize your buyer's wants, your property's assets, and how to bridge the gap between the two for a sale.

If you follow these actionable steps, there's no doubt that you'll be able to sell your home and transition into a new one with minimal stress. Adding your home to the available Marin County real estate is likely more involved than you first expected. While these steps are simple, they'll make important contributions to the final decision your buyer makes. 

It doesn't take an expert to know how important that final decision is for both your buyer and you as the seller. As an established Marin County real estate agent, Kevin Kearney has the experience and knowledge necessary to sell your home. Kevin has experience as a Luxury Property Specialist and is a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist. These qualifications make him a perfect fit for your home selling purposes. Reach out to him today.