If you've moved recently

[dizzycooks]

What things have your realities told you need fixing/updating in order to sell your house? Big things? Little things? Give me a list. I obviously have too much energy and time in my hands and I need to add to my to do list (tic). Seriously though a house in our neighborhood is in foreclosure and we want it, however we probably can't make a contingent offer so I want our house in tip top shape when we are ready to sell. Most things around here are going in a week or two so I just need to be ready.

[justbecause]

We are working on getting the house ready for the market.
On my list:
Decluttering as much as possible. My mom is storing some extra furniture for us and all baby stuff is going in storage, too. Donating a ton of junk
Fixing some issues with the trim inside
New blinds (damn cats!)
Steam clean carpets, steam mop floors
Take down family pictures
Power wash the outside of the house
Have septic pumped (on the list anyway)

[auroraloo]

paint trim
refinish hardwoods
clean rugs
declutter
take down personal photos
clean dining chair covers
fresh mulch in yard
clean outside windows
fix fence hole
powerwash house
powerwash sidewalk
lift back patio sunken stones
organize garage

[nowa]

We decluttered a ton. And rearranged some furniture and made a run to ikea to buy a few things like white sheets and comforter for staging. I truly believe staging is so important in selling fast and for more $$. You'll probably sell no matter what in a hot market, but if your place is staged well, you'll sell faster and for more money.

[gastro]

Most houses here sell within days or sooner with multiple offers. We are looking to buy another house and as a buyer I've noticed the houses that are staged go super quick. Clean yards, no clutter at all, fresh paint inside and out.

Eta: most realtors here pay for the staging.....not the seller

[dizzycooks]

Jul 7, 2015 13:52:01 GMT -5 gastro said:

Most houses here sell within days or sooner with multiple offers. We are looking to buy another house and as a buyer I've noticed the houses that are staged go super quick. Clean yards, no clutter at all, fresh paint inside and out.

Eta: most realtors here pay for the staging.....not the seller

I'd assume they can't stage it if you're living in it though right?  I know we are going to have to box up a TON of crap when the time comes, but I'm not going to make my kids live without half their toys or any family photos on the walls until it's time.  I guess I need to get at painting a few things and scrubbing some baseboards at least.

[nowa]

Yea I made my kids live with half their clothes and toys and books and half of my kitchen supplies. From start of staging to finish took a month. We got multiple offers after a weekend of open houses. It's worth it. Your kids will survive without some toys really.

Eta: to clarify it took a month from first meeting with realtor to officially putting house on the market during which time we decluttered and staged. Sold within a weekend.

Oh and Eta again we staged with all our own furniture just rearranged according to realtors suggestions. Moved some rugs around, bought some sheets, towels, etc type stuff.

[andrewsgal]

The houses here are selling fast. I have no problem with my kids living with a few toys and no family photos if it means we can list and sell in a week. We will only work with realtors that have professional stagers on staff makes a world of difference.

[lexus]

The realtor is sending a photographer out to take pictures of our house in an hour and a half. It sounds like you have the wrong mentality. When you list your house it isn't your home anymore, it's a product. You want to make it as marketable as possible. The realtor and his staging expert gave us a detailed list of what to do to the house. Big things like storing extra furniture down to little tiny suggestions about what the inside of my cabinets should look like. You need to always have your house ready for a showing. You aren't going to want your kids to have many toys, if for no other reason than so you don't have to pick them up with an hour's notice.

[dizzycooks]

Jul 7, 2015 16:25:08 GMT -5 lexus said:

The realtor is sending a photographer out to take pictures of our house in an hour and a half. It sounds like you have the wrong mentality. When you list your house it isn't your home anymore, it's a product. You want to make it as marketable as possible. The realtor and his staging expert gave us a detailed list of what to do to the house. Big things like storing extra furniture down to little tiny suggestions about what the inside of my cabinets should look like. You need to always have your house ready for a showing. You aren't going to want your kids to have many toys, if for no other reason than so you don't have to pick them up with an hour's notice.

I get that when it's actually listed. We aren't listing it until we find out more about the house we want. It could be months. I want to be ready to dump stuff in boxes, take down photos and pack up extra junk and not worry about the bigger stuff (painting, landscaping, etc) that I could be taking care of now. If this house doesn't work out we have no plans of leaving very soon so I'm not going to live in a staged house just because some day we might move. I am trying to think of the projects we could do now.