What Every Senior Should Do Before Putting Their Home On The Market

7 Things to Consider Before Buying a Home

August 29, 2018

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While nearly 90 percent of seniors in the US want to age in place, it's sometimes necessary to move due to health reasons (think moving to an assisted living facility). Alternatively, some like the idea of moving to a retirement community, or need to downsize in order to free up some extra cash.

If you're in your golden years and want to sell your home, it’s critical to look at your house as an investment so it sells quickly and you make money from the sale. Of course, in order for that to happen, you've got to make sure your abode is in decent shape.

While it can be difficult to make expensive renovations if you're on a fixed income, at the very least, you should stage your home for success. Here are some of the top items that should consider - before putting your home on the market.

1. Declutter and Depersonalize

In order to make the rest of the staging process easier, start by decluttering and depersonalizing each room. Use this as an opportunity to get rid of things you no longer need and start the packing process. People tend to take depersonalizing personally (pun intended!); however, taste-specific decor, items related to your hobbies, family photos, and pet paraphernalia are considered big buyer turn offs — along with clutter — which is why this step is a very important one.

A potential buyer wants to be able to picture themselves in your home, and this can be difficult to do when there are piles of newspapers and a "Gone Fishing" sign hanging above the door. Since you're not going to want stacked-up boxes in your home during an open house, check out local storage facility options so you can store your packed goods. You may also want to hide away additional miscellaneous, rarely-used items, such as large, unused furniture and items cluttering closets, the basement, and garage.

2. Upgrade Dated Decor

If you've been living in your home for a substantial period of time, there’s likely to be some dated decor lurking in each room. To potential buyers, this is a turn off, as most seekers look for properties with a modern-day feel. Top updates to consider include popcorn ceilings, fixtures, wallpaper and hardware.

It's also a good idea to replace or remove worn flooring, and replace old carpet or scuffed linoleum to freshen things up. If you have beautiful hardwood flooring underneath tired carpeting, consider hiring a pro to remove it and refinish the floors. Repainting the walls is another easy way to bring life into your home — especially where there's wallpaper.

3. Conduct Deferred Maintenance

From leaky faucets and toilets to broken light fixtures, deferred maintenance can make selling a home more difficult, because the buyer is factoring in all of the things they'll have to pay for. Plus, it reduces the value of your property. If you can't fix these items yourself, it’s best to hire a handyman so you don't create more damage.

What Every Senior Should Do Before Putting Their Home On The Market

4. Boost Curb Appeal

There's no need to recreate the gardens of Versailles to add curb appeal. Simple changes can make all the difference in the world. For example, you can start by removing eyesores (a rusty old swing set, old garden tools, broken lawn furniture), mowing the lawn, trimming the bushes and trees, and getting rid of weeds.

Additional touches, like painting your front door, replacing the mail box, power washing the home and driveway, and adding some shrubs and florals in attractive pots can help brighten up the exterior — the first thing potential homebuyers see when they pull up to your home.

5. Get A Professional Deep Clean

Once you've taken care of all of the heavy lifting, hire a pro to conduct a deep clean of your entire home, including steam cleaning any carpeting, upholstery, and curtains. While you may think you can do it yourself, an expert can thoroughly clean tricky areas, such as the grout between the tiles, ceiling fans, baseboards, and vents, all in record time. It's a small investment that can have a big impact on potential buyers.

6. Hire A Professional Home Stager

It may behoove you to hire a professional home stager to help make suggestions on inexpensive and easy ways to clear clutter, depersonalize, and modernize your home. You may think your property is in good shape, but these pros know what buyers are looking for in the current market. If you're looking to sell your home quickly while maximizing your ROI, this can be a smart investment.

Ready to Put Your Home on the Market?

If you follow these simple tips before putting your home on the market, you’ll be in great shape to sell your home in no time. Don’t neglect to ready your home before trying to sell it, or you may regret it.

Contact a Red Post Realty agent today to get started!