If you will be putting your home on the market soon, then you need to get it ready so you can entice buyers to put in a high offer. This can require a month or two of preparation, depending on how lived-in your house is. The following are three services you may want to to consider to make sure your home is ready to list.
House Cleaners
A lot of things can be overlooked by buyers if the house appears very clean and well taken care of. Grime in the corners, grease marks in the kitchen, and scum in the toilets can all put off buyers. While it is possible to buckle down and spend a few weeks deep cleaning your home yourself, a professional cleaning service can get the job done much more quickly and thoroughly. They may even be able to get out some of the stains you thought were impossible, such as mildew stains around the sink or that juice stain in the carpet. If you do decide to tackle the cleaning yourself, understand that it may require more than just elbow grease. Be prepared to rent special tools, like carpet cleaners, to make sure the job is done thoroughly.
Repair Service
Spending a few hundred dollars on minor repairs can equate to several thousand dollars on the purchase price of your home, especially in a seller's market. A repair or "handyman" service can touch up paint, repair small electrical and plumbing issues, and fix broken tiles, just as a few examples. Focus first on having the most obvious repairs made. For example, a broken window is more important to fix before listing than a loose board in a closet. Check with your real estate agent as well when determining what repairs to prioritize. For example, some home loan programs require that all bare wood on the exterior of a home is painted, so this would be a repair to complete before listing.
Lawn Care
Many buyers will drive by your home before scheduling a viewing to determine if they want to spend the time to actually see the inside. This means the curb appeal matters for attracting the most buyers. Hiring a lawn care service to mow, edge, and trim back hedges can really improve your home's exterior. Some services will even rejuvenate the foundation plantings of your home with fresh flowers and mulch.
Talk with a real estate agent to determine any further preparations you will need to do to get your home ready to list.
