Moving into your new dream home is a happy and exciting occasion. But before you can get to that light at the end of the tunnel, you have to go through the process of selling your old home. And before THAT, you have to prep your home for sale. Sound overwhelming? It doesn’t have to be if you follow this handy checklist to get it done!
1. Pick a listing date
When you sell your home matters. The best time to sell on Long Island is generally late spring to early summer, with most listings in Nassau and Suffolk counties happening between March and June. However, that doesn’t mean you should never sell outside that window, since a) you can’t always choose when you need to sell, and b) less inventory for buyers means less competition, which can benefit you
2. Declutter and deep-clean
Putting away personal knicknacks isn’t just helpful for getting ahead of packing— it also creates a neater, more neutral space for potential buyers to look at. As fun as it is to create a hyper-personalized living space, a more minimalist look makes it easier for buyers to imagine themselves living there. And everyone wants to live in a clean home, so unless your spring cleaning was very recent and very thorough, it’s time for another round of deep-cleaning.
3. Boost curb appeal
It’s time to make your home’s exterior look just as good as the inside. Pruning, painting, and pressure-washing are all options you may want to consider, but there’s also plenty you can do for free, like weeding, cleaning up clutter, and moving trash cans somewhere less visible.
4. Gather your documents
Get your paperwork in order to save yourself the headache of hunting for it piece by piece later. At minimum, you’ll need: the deed; homeowners insurance records; HOA information if you’re part of one; a letter of mortgage payoff from your lender; home repairs, maintenance, and pre-listing inspection reports; and more. Pre-listing inspections are important, and something I’m happy to assist you with.
5. Assess your home’s condition
But how do you do that? Having a home inspector perform a pre-listing inspection is a great starting point! Before your home goes on the market, you need to know what condition it’s in, both for pricing purposes and for the chance to fix it up before listing. Long Island home sellers are required to disclose any known structural damage or issues with utilities, so knowing what your home’s problem areas are and fixing them ahead of time can save you a disclosure, which puts potential buyers at ease. The best way to uncover your home’s problem areas is with an inspection.
That’s where I come in! If you’re selling your home on Long Island and looking for an inspector, reach out to me today.
