Are You Ready to Sell a Home in 2021?
The housing market for the metro Chicago area remains on fire if you’re looking to sell. Since last year, home sellers have been reaping the benefits of a hot seller’s market during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Illinois Realtors” report the metro area faces a 18-percent increase in sales in January and February over the same months in 2020, as well as a 15-percent increase in the median sales price, from $235,000 to $270,000.
With little to no inventory, and buyers fighting for properties, homeowners find themselves seriously contemplating selling their beloved homes.
While it might be nice finding a new place to call home, there is no denying the fact that getting a property prepared for sale can leave you with a hefty to-do list and feeling a bit stressed.
Despite the increased housing demand, here at Chicagoland Home Staging, we empower our home sellers with tools to boost property appeal and get the maximum return on your investment.
If you’re thinking about selling your home, here are a few preparation tips to get you started:
Small Repairs Make a Big Impact
Small issues send the message the property has not been up kept, so take some time to tour your property as a buyer would. Be detailed, looking high and low throughout every room and make a list of all the repairs you should make before placing your home on the market. Some repairs could include: leaky faucets, squeaky doors, fresh paint, change burnt out light bulbs and update light fixtures.
Take a moment to also look at your property’s current curb appeal, is it welcoming? If not, do some inexpensive upgrades, like replacing the mailbox, sprucing up the landscaping, painting the front door or adding some potted flowers to warmly welcome potential buyers home.
Declutter + Depersonalize
We want potential buyers to notice the features and square footage of your property rather than “your stuff.” Before placing your home on the market, make sure to declutter each space by either tossing, storing, donating or selling the items that no longer serve a purpose.
Oh, and don’t forget to organize those closets too to increase the amount of space your property has.
The more personal your items, the more likely you’ll want to pack them away for your move, these items may include: collectibles, family headshots, keepsakes, plus, political and religious memorabilia.
This is an important step when preparing your home for sale because we want potential buyers to imagine themselves living in your home as they tour the property.
Keep a Cleaning Schedule
Before an open house or showing is scheduled make sure the property has been deep cleaned. This means to schedule time to wash windows and walls, dust and mop, basically wipe down the entire home from top to bottom, or of course hire a professional.
Plan on having a daily and/or weekly cleaning schedule that you can manage while on the market to maintain the mess and be ready to show at a moments notice.
Pay special attention to any unpleasant odors too! If you have carpets, make sure to have them professionally cleaned as well, because they maybe absorbing unwanted smells. It’s imperative that you eliminate the source of the odor and replace it with fresh simple scents that won’t overpower the home.
Hire a Beloved Real Estate Agent
Before selling you will want find a real estate agent that can support and guide you through this process. We work with some talented real estate agents, that we can refer to help save time and reduce the stress of negotiations. (Contact us today for a referral)
Whoever you hire make sure your listing agent provides professional high-quality photos and videos of your staged house to accompany the online listing. Surely, a home buyer will first tour the home online, so make a good first impression with this marketing tactic.
As you begin completing these steps, it may feel like moving is becoming your new reality. So, now’s the time to start thinking about where you will move next. In a hot housing market competition will be stiff, you wouldn’t want to be stuck with nowhere to move next if your house sells too fast, which is happening all too often these days.
Create a Lifestyle to Desire
We want a buyer to emotionally connect with your home— so it’s all about the details and finishing touches along the way. From furnishings to accessories our team at Chicagoland Home Staging can put together a staging plan that works for your property. We specialize in vacant properties, but also conduct home staging consultations and occupied stagings to support our cliental.
When selling a home, the goal is to sell quickly for the highest price. Our years of experience have shown that you as the seller have power when it comes to achieving the best results. With Chicagoland Home Staging and a REALTOR partner on your team, you work together to implement the key factors of selling.
Contact us today to learn more about our process, customized services and how we can help guide you to reach your goal and sell your home.
