Prepare to Sell
Buyers decide how they feel about a house quickly, often from the photos and then again from the curb. Most of what helps is inexpensive, though it does take a few weekends.
Curb appeal
Start outside, because that is where the buyer starts. Mow, prune, clear the moss off the walk and clean the gutters. A few pots of annuals by the front door help more than you would expect.
Repairs
Fix the small things a buyer will notice and wonder about: the cracked window, the dripping faucet, the door that sticks, the tarnished doorknobs. Put a fresh coat of paint on the rooms that get the most use. Small neglected items make buyers suspect larger ones. We will walk through with you and tell you what to do and what you can leave alone, so you do not spend money that will not come back.
Cleaning and staging
Keep the house clean, uncluttered and well lit from top to bottom. Have the carpets cleaned and replace the dead bulbs. Put away the litter box and deal with any smells, since you stopped noticing them a long time ago and a buyer will notice right away. Fresh flowers near the entry are a nice touch. Before the house is listed we go through it room by room and suggest what to move or remove.
Disclosures and a pre-listing inspection
Washington requires most sellers to fill out a seller disclosure statement, usually called Form 17. It asks what you know about the property: the title, water, sewer or septic, the structure, the systems, any environmental issues. We can explain what a question is asking, but the answers have to be yours, and if you are unsure what you are obliged to disclose, ask an attorney.
Some sellers also have the house inspected before listing, including for pests and rot, so there are no surprises in the middle of a deal. Whether that makes sense depends on the house, and there is more in our piece on getting your home inspected before selling.
Showings
Showing the house is our job, and it goes better if you are not there. Buyers talk more freely and stay longer when the owner is out, and we know what to say about the house in a way that protects your position. Plan to be out for showings, and keep the place ready to show on short notice while it is listed.
With the house ready, the next step is accepting an offer.