Get Started in March, Sell in June
Staging a home for sale can be a complicated process. Since June is the peak month for home sales (both the weather and the typical schedule of employment make it a desirable time to buy, sell, and move), it is a good idea to start getting ready in early March. That way, you can move through all the steps necessary to get your home ready in a leisurely manner, and be ready to hit the market with a bang come the hot season.
In March:
1. Take a thorough, searching inventory of your home, listing all of the ways it could be improved, and how much they are likely to cost versus how much they are likely to gain you in your sales price. Now is a good time to enlist a real estate agent or other consultant to help you with this process. You want to take note of anything that is:
– noticeably damaged (chipping or peeling paint, substrate damage, water damage, broken or run-down appliances, chipping tile or flagstone)
– noticeably stained, dirty, or run-down (impurity leaching, paint stained with grease or smoke, old and faded paint or stain)
– idiosyncratic, not universally appealing (strange color combinations)
Remember, when you sell a house, you want it to look strong, clean, and impersonal. That means that the bright mauve and blue that you have always loved in the downstairs bathroom, even though it is in decent shape, might be something you want to consider changing before you offer your home on the market, because unusual decorating schemes can make it hard for other people to picture themselves in your home.
2. Make a plan. Come up with a schedule of the work you want to have done. Don’t forget that de-cluttering your personal items, landscaping, and thorough cleaning are essential steps in the process, in addition to any painting, refinishing, and remodeling.
3. Schedule the work. It is good to hire your contractor as soon as possible, so that you can ensure your project fits amongst their busy spring schedule.
In April:
1. De – clutter. Take the time to get all of your personal objects organized and managed so that it is convenient to work in your home, and so that when the time comes you can present a decluttered open house. Clutter is one of the biggest deterrents to a home being successfully sold.
2. Get all intensive work done. Anything that involves reframing, replacing fixtures, plumbing, drywall replacement, etc., should begin in April.
In May:
1. Get the repainting done. You want to get it done before any furniture is put back or fixtures returned to their original locations, if you have had them moved for any reason.
2. Tend to your landscaping. Landscaping, as well as exterior painting, greatly enhances curb appeal. Nw is the time to make sure that your landscaping makes your home shine! Ask your realtor for simple tips that make a huge difference.
3. Decoration! Once the paint dries, it is time to focus on gently decorating your interior and exterior to make it universally appealing. Remember, you are trying to appeal to the widest collection of people, not specifically to yourself.
In June:
Hit the market! Now you’re ready!