So you’ve made the big decision to sell your house, and while the prospect of getting it market ready and sold in 60 days may seem overwhelming (or even impossible!), let me assure you it is not! Just be prepared, accept you will have to spend some cash before you earn some, and follow the steps below.
Step one: Pick your estate agent. Check out what agents have the most homes listed for sale in your area. You don’t have to go with one of these, but it does give you a good indication of who is reputable and knowledgeable. One of the best ways to research your shortlisted agents is by attending their open house inspections. At the inspection observe and interact with the agent, taking note of how they communicate with potential buyers, their behaviour at open house, whether they give you a follow up call, their timeliness and their marketing techniques.
Step two: Pick a home stager. Even if you think your house is in tip top shape, the small investment in a home stager (usually from $150 per consult) can be the difference between good and exceptional results. They are trained industry experts in real estate and design/styling, and have the ability to not only see your property through fresh eyes, but rationalise where the biggest return on investment is for the property.
Step three: Have your agent and home stager view your property. They are the best people to advise you on what needs to be done to your home before you put it on the market.
Step four: Prepare for open house. While your agent and home stager will guide you in what to do, some tips to remember are: keep the exterior of your home neat (especially important for kerbside appeal), remove personal items (you want potential buyers to be able to imagine living in your property), get rid of clutter, wipe down all surfaces and make sure the house has no odours (for example dampness, animals, cigarettes etc.).
Step five: Decide if you want to go to auction.This all comes down to trusting your agent, if you chose well and have total trust in your agent than this is a simple process, just follow their advice. They are the ones that are aware of the market, the buyers that are interested and the best strategy to maximise profit.
Step six: Sell!
