Selling a home that has been lived in for many years can be a difficult process whether a loved one has passed or is just moving into a nursing home. Many memories have been made that hold a multitude of emotions and it is hard to let it all go. Here are a few steps to help ease the stress of preparing your loved one’s home for sale.
Be Patient
If time isn’t of the essence put a 60-90 day freeze on all decision making. During that time leave everything in the home as-is except for expiring food, medicines, and anything else that could leave a bad odor. This hold-over time period will give friends and family time to grieve, time to process the options, and time to remember the home exactly how it was while your loved one still lived there.
Get Expert Help
A lawyer should be one of your first calls as they can help get the necessary paperwork in order such as a power of attorney and will. They can also help you navigate through probate. Seeking legal advice about selling a home is always advised as it can greatly affect the title of the home.
Next, a realtor will be able to talk about all of your options when it comes to selling. Since a realtor doesn’t have any emotional attachment to the house, they will be able to be matter of fact and tell you the current market value of the home. A realtor will also let you know which items should be updated to get the most money out of the house.
Declutter
It can be difficult to let things go, but a house must be de-personalized in order to sell for top dollar. If the process is too difficult or daunting to do on your own, you might consider hiring an estate sale company to host an estate sale. If this is the route you go, it is best to step away from the process and let the professionals do their job.
If you prefer to go through items yourself, consider hiring an appraiser or specialist to look at antiques to find out their true value. Less valuable items can be donated so you know they are going to a good home. Non-profit businesses that are usually seeking donations include Goodwill, Salvation Army, and Habitat for Humanity Restores.
Update/Repairs
A lived-in home will have signs of wear & tear. At a minimum fix cracked tiles, patch holes in walls, give the home a coat of fresh neutral paint, replace burned out lightbulbs, and remove curtains to let the most light in. You might also consider installing new carpet and flooring.
To get the most money out of the home, consider doing a kitchen and bathroom remodel as those spaces tend to be the biggest selling points of a house. If you don’t have time for a major renovation you can update simple items such as replacing light fixtures, faucets, and hinges. In the bathrooms add a few stacked washcloths tied with a ribbon, add lightly scented candles, and buy matching bathmats & towels in a light green, blue or white tone.
Your realtor might also suggest hiring a professional stager, who will bring in contemporary furniture to enhance the homes attractiveness to potential buyers.
Clean, Clean, Clean
One of the last steps inside the home is to give it a good cleaning. If you don’t mind putting in the elbow grease, then begin with washing the windows, vacuuming, dusting, wiping down all surfaces, and polishing appliances. You can also consider hiring a cleaning company, who can come in and make the home sparkle in just a few hours.
Curb Appeal
Lastly, spruce up the landscaping and front entrance of the home which might have become neglected. Trim shrubs, add flowers, mow the lawn, give the front door a fresh coat of paint, and paint faded trim. In addition, certain buyer’s loan types such as FHA & VA will require rotted deck boards be replaced, that peeling paint is fixed, and any broken windows be repaired.
If you are ready to take the next step in selling, call lMike Lies with Gold Compass Real Estate at 303-325-5690.