Spring generally tends to be the time that many sellers target. Why is this? Well for one—particularly in Alaska—homes just look better in Spring and Summer. Plus, the weather is much nicer to entice buyers to go tooling around to look at homes. As it warms up, it’s much easier to see what would otherwise be buried in snow.
For sellers, that means windows, siding and driveways can be washed and hosed down when it’s no longer freezing. Lawns begin to green up and more daylight floods kitchens and bedrooms.
Still, there’s a fair bit of preparation that goes into getting your house ready to go on the market. I know; I’ve been there! A few years ago, I went through that process with my folks’ home.
Whether you’re planning on selling this year or in the near future, here are some tips from My Favorite Realty in Palmer.
- TIMELINE. If you need to relocate somewhere else by a certain date, then you’ll need to do some back-timing. How long will it take to sell your house?
- ASSEMBLE INVOICES. Assemble all the invoices from work you’ve done on the house in recent years. Include reports from inspections done for any major systems, such as the roof, heating system, etc. If you are on a well and septic system, you’ll have to have documents from the City or Borough stating that the well and septic system have passed inspection. Find out what is an absolute requirement and which things are not, so you don’t spend money on something that’s not really necessary. Your realtor can help; that’s what they do!
- DISCLOSURE. Complete a full disclosure of what you know about the condition of the property and anything that could be a future concern, inside or outside. Be completely honest and provide as many details as you can. Doing so gives you legal protection.
- PRE-INSPECTION. A pre-inspection can be a huge help to a seller. This way, you might be made aware of what things need attention so you can get as much done as you can prior to going on the market. Of course, the buyers may also order their own inspection as well, but you’ll be ahead of the game and it can speed things up if you’ve been able to resolve any glaring issues.
- STAGE the home using your own furniture if it’s not already moved out. Declutter and clean, as if you were having a dinner party. Pick up clothes, clear off counter tops and open curtains or blinds to make the home feel light and bright.
- PHOTOS Take good photos after everything is clean and decluttered. If you’re not good with a camera, your realtor can take pictures. It’s important to get the right lighting so your home will look it’s best on the MLS and other social media.
