According to a recent study from Zoopla, it usually takes 25 weeks to sell a home from the moment it is first listed. While some of this time is taken up in contractual obligations and paperwork, the biggest challenge you’ll face when putting your home on the market is finding an interested buyer.
Photo by Tierra Mallorca on Unsplash
Fortunately, there are many steps that you can take to speed up the process so that you can sell your home as quickly as possible.
Start by decluttering
Whether you’re downsizing or moving to a bigger property, there are a lot of benefits associated with decluttering before moving. For example, this can save you a lot of money when it comes to hiring a moving team, as you’ll have fewer things to move from A to B.
This will also help to ensure that you’re giving yourself a truly fresh start, as you won’t be bringing along any items that you no longer need or use.
However, decluttering can also help when moving as it will allow you to ensure that your home is as appealing as possible to potential buyers who attend a viewing.
After all, it means that they’ll be able to see the property in the best possible light, as opposed to wading through a sea of clutter and personal belongings!
If decluttering is something that you tend to struggle with, try to be as ruthless as possible. As a general rule, you can afford to part ways with something that you a) have not used/needed within the past year and b) cannot see yourself needing in the coming year.
Remember, decluttering does not have to be a wasteful practice, as you can donate or sell these belongings if they are in good enough condition.
Learn how to stage your home
A study from Property Investor found that “staged homes spend 33% to 50% less time on the market than unstaged homes.” While decluttering is a great starting point for effective staging, there are many other steps that you can take to ensure that you’re capturing the attention of potential buyers.
For example, if your take on interior decorating is a little bolder than most, you may want to try and ‘tone down’ the space, such as by applying a fresh coat of paint in a more neutral shade or tone. This makes it easier for buyers to envision how they’d decorate or personalize the space.
When decluttering, you should also be sure to depersonalize the space as much as possible to achieve the same effect listed above. For example, this could mean that it’s time to store away those family photographs and prints. At the very least, this can give you a headstart on packing, which is an incredibly time-consuming process within itself.
Improve your curb appeal
It is important to remember that first impressions count when viewing a property, with many buyers making their minds up about whether or not they’d like to live in a home before they have even stepped through the door. As such, working to improve your curb appeal before listing your property is essential.
Not only is this a great way to reel in potential buyers, but it could also add considerable value to your home.
There are many different ways in which you can improve your curb appeal, starting by ensuring that your yard looks its best. For example, this could mean that you need to invest in a push mower to ensure that your garden does not look messy and overgrown or even plant a few flowers here and there.
You can also improve your curb appeal by:
- Dealing with obvious maintenance issues, such as missing or dislodged roof tiles and guttering
- Repainting window frames, door frames, fences, and other wooden fixtures
- Cleaning or jet washing your driveway
- Cleaning your windows
- Installing lighting to ensure that the driveway is well-lit
Ensure that you price your home correctly
There are many reasons why your property may spend more time on the market than you’d like it to. For example, it could be that you’ve simply set the asking price too high. As such, you can speed up the process somewhat by ensuring that your home is priced fairly and competitively. While appraisals can help, you should also be sure to see how much other comparable homes in your neighborhood are selling for, which can provide a great benchmark.
On a similar note, you should also decide ahead of time what the ‘minimum’ amount of money you’d accept for your property is (often slightly lower than your asking price). This means that you’ll feel a little more prepared when entering a contract negotiation.
Find ways to add value to your home
Finding ways to add value to your home can also ensure a speedy sale, due to the fact that it means you’ll be ticking more and more of a buyer’s boxes ahead of time. While this does require some investment, it’s likely something that you’ll be able to recuperate during the actual sale itself.
Again, there are many ways in which you can add value to your home. For example, you should start by focusing on key areas or spaces within the property, such as the bathroom or kitchen, and ensuring that the amenities are up-to-date and functioning correctly.
You should also ensure that you carry out any necessary maintenance work as soon as you possibly can, especially as ignoring these glaring issues could cause the value of your property to drop quite considerably. Remember that while basic maintenance tasks can be carried out through a spot of DIY, there will be occasions in which you may need assistance, such as for electrical and plumbing tasks.
Final thoughts
If your home has been sitting on the market for several weeks and you are beginning to lose hope, don’t despair. From improving your curb appeal to decluttering the space, there are plenty of steps that you can take to speed up the process as much as you can.
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