SELLER'S GUIDE     

ASSESS YOUR HOME FOR REPAIRS NEEDED

You love your home and the quirks it has—squeaky doors, loose outlets, leaky faucets, and all. Connect with a trusted handyman to address these items. While they may not be huge issues, a potential buyer may be turned off by too many 'small' items and have concerns with the maintenance of your home. If you have larger issues, you may want to consider having a home inspection completed independently prior to listing your home for sale to get ahead of any issues. This may allow you to present your home "as-is" and prevent surprises during the buyer's home inspection, making negotiations smoother on the way to the closing table. 

DECLUTTER + DEPERSONALIZE

Sort through excess clothing, furniture, and electronics for any you can sell or donate. Remove excess clutter in closets and storage areas so that potential buyers can easily see the size of the space. Pre-emptively pack items seldom used such as holiday decor and out-of-season clothing. To create a welcoming feel without too much personalization, consider packing magazines, toys, keepsakes, photo albums, and excess decor. By packing fragile and valuables first, you will save time packing later, protect your high-value items, and allow the features of your home to stand out. Consider renting a storage unit to begin separating items you intend to move and do not want to have in the house during photography, tours, or open houses—and to make the moving process less stressful!

CONNECT WITH A BROKER FOR A PROFESSIONAL MARKET EVALUATION

A Broker is a trusted resource for all your questions and acts as a fierce advocate for your best interests. Take time to find the best fit when choosing who will list your home for sale and ask for a Comprehensive Market Evaluation, or a CMA. Your Broker will provide comparables, an estimated market price, and suggested changes that can improve your value. Discuss any questions you have about the selling process, your timeline to move, and any other pertinent goals or potential hurdles in scheduling tours or open houses. Ask about services such as staging, photography, and videography, along with how they plan to market your home digitally and in print, too!

THINGS TO DO

• Deep clean your home and carpets

• Stock up on lightbulbs in various sizes

• Spruce up landscaping for curb appeal

• Showcase storage space and remove clutter

• Organize manuals and leftover paint/swatches

THINGS TO AVOID

• Don't start large DIY renovations

• Remove valuables and medications

• Don't display fragile personal decor 

• Don't skip minor repairs and updates

• Be wary of overpricing and discount brokers

What's A Market Evaluation & Why Do I Need One?

A Comprehensive Market Evaluation, or CMA, is a big-picture look at your home and recent sales in the area. When interviewing potential Brokers, you can expect to receive an evaluation with details about your home, comparable properties, and suggested improvements. When you are working with a Nostalgic Homes Broker, you will have a comprehensive and custom guide created for you. This custom guide will answer many of your questions about the listing and selling process as well. 

You can request a FREE Market Evaluation any time, with no strings attached! You may choose to use a routine CMA to keep up with market trends, see how nearby sales impacted your value, or track your equity gains to use for another investment. Our goal is to ensure you are educated and empowered in your investment!

NEARBY COMPARABLES

Recent Comparable Sales are the best indicator of what you can expect to encounter when listing your home for sale. Reviewing comparable features such as beds and baths, finished/unfinished areas, lot size, condition and finish, parking, and days spent on the market can give you a bigger picture of the current demand in the market. 

Every new sale—or unsuccessful listing—can impact your property value, so having the most current Market Evaluation possible is key to pricing your property competitively for a swift, top-dollar sale.  

REPAIRS & IMPROVEMENTS

In comparing your home to recent listings and sales in the area, you may notice areas where improvements could help your home stand out from the crowd. This can include things like painting, carpeting, hardware, landscaping, organization, and decluttering. Reviewing comparable homes with an open mind can give you inspiration for updates or ways to stage your home that you haven't thought of before!

Your Broker will suggest improvement opportunities that fit your timeline and budget, as well as share what ROI you might see on these projects when listing.