If you are thinking of putting your home on the market, there are some things you can start doing to make sure your house is show ready! Preparing beforehand will not only dramatically reduce stress and make the process as smooth, it is highly likely to increase your sale price and shorten your time on the market.
Just give us a call! We will come to tour your property with fresh eyes, give you real, honest, professional advice on how your property presents and make suggestions to get your home ready for its new family! Our concierge-style approach to real estate means you’ll never have to wonder what you need to do or what needs to happen next. We will provide experienced advice and be with you every step of the way.
Let’s face it, it’s likely prospective buyers will open up the door to your closet (yes a bit disconcerting, but they will) and you don’t want a lifetime of collectables falling out! Prospective buyers want to see the storage and envision themselves using the space. Where are they going to store their Christmas tree? One of the best things you can do prior to listing your house is to declutter, organize. Take the things you haven’t used in years to your favorite charity which will make you feel great all while improving the presentation and ultimate return of your home. If there are items you could remove, but don’t want to give away, consider renting a storage unit for these items until your home sells. We would be very happy to help you find that bigger home with more storage!
Clean like you’ve never cleaned before! Stains on the carpet, baseboards, kitchen, bathrooms, and all those hidden spots you might overlook on the daily tidy. A spotless, fresh-smelling home will make for a better first impression for your potential buyer. And don’t forget the windows!!! Too often this is overlooked – let the buyers see your gorgeous garden/pool/water/beach views. We would love to say “one and done”, but it is very important to keep your home in show condition while it is on the market because you just never know when your buyer will come along. We aim for a minimum of 24 hours' notice, but you would be surprised at how many homes we sell whose first showing was totally last-minute!
Over time your home will most likely have some quirks that you have grown to love or ignore (probably the latter). That kitchen cabinet door that everyone knows not to open because it will fall off the hinges now is the time to FIX IT! You should attempt to remediate any of the big-ticket items such as air condition units, electrical problems, roof leaks (etc.) prior to listing. Other simple repairs are changing lightbulbs, new caulking around sinks and tubs, AC filters just to name a few. Fixing these small issues will send a message to prospective buyers that the house is in good order, ready to move in, and has been well-maintained.
Upgrades such as replacing dated and broken appliances, putting on a fresh coat of paint, new sink faucets, or a few updated, well-placed pieces of furniture will help to stage your home. Think about investing in a few more lamps to brighten dark spaces and one of the cheapest updating tricks of the trade is as simple as new knobs on the kitchen cabinets – you will be shocked at what a difference this can make. All of these upgrades and additions help prospective buyers see how “turn-key” the property is and will reduce their internal list of “to-do’s” making the place feel more like their home.
We are here and ready to help you with all of the above and get you from listing to putting up the SOLD sign! Don’t wait, call Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Cayman Islands today!