Holly Hurd

Holly Hurd
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices HWWB, REALTORS

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

8 Projects I Recommend as a Realtor to Clients to Prepare for Selling a House

 











Declutter

The average home in the U.S. contains 300,000 items, and 25 percent of Americans claim to have a "clutter" problem. A cluttered home appears disorganized and cramped — not ideal to entice potential buyers. It's no wonder 96 percent of Realtors recommend decluttering to their sellers before listing a home.



"When I meet with a potential seller, my priority is typically decluttering the space," "If the seller doesn't make a concerted effort to remove clutter, buyers have a hard time actually seeing the home."

If you have the time and energy, you can declutter yourself for free. However, if you don't feel up to the task, lots of professional organizers out there will do it for you. A typical hourly rate is $50 to $60. Larger jobs that require more workers and time can cost more.

Portrait of smiling millennial cleaning lady holding bucket with cleaning supplies and mop, posing and looking at camera standing in living room
Portrait of smiling millennial cleaning lady holding bucket with cleaning supplies and mop, posing and looking at camera standing in living room© Prostock-Studio/Getty Images

Thorough Cleaning

Cleaning your home goes hand-in-hand with decluttering to create a positive first impression. It's recommended by 88 percent of Realtors before an open house. A clean home enhances the overall appeal and signals to buyers the property is in good condition, potentially increasing their willingness to make an offer.

A house should 'sparkle' before a showing,   I'll recommend a cleaning person to come in and do a deep cleaning. It's well worth the money.

 I always recommend having the home professionally cleaned just before showings start.

Professionally deep cleaning a 1,000 square foot home professionally will cost about $100 to $300. It will take two people one to three hours to thoroughly scrub, dust and vacuum all home surfaces, even hard-to-reach areas. To do it yourself will cost about $50 in cleaning supplies and at least five to six hours of your time.

Putty Knife With Spackling Paste against a wall and wood molding
Putty Knife With Spackling Paste against a wall and wood molding© herreid/Getty Images

Minor Drywall Repair

Repairing minor drywall problems presents a well-maintained and move-in ready appearance to potential buyers. Even minor imperfections can raise concerns about the overall condition of the property, possibly deterring buyers or giving them leverage to negotiate a lower price.

Repairing drywall damage is a simple DIY task requiring basic tools and know-how. If you hire a professional, expect to pay $300 to $500 depending on the size and scope of the project. A pro is worth the money if you're unsure of your DIY skills.

 There's almost always some drywall that needs fixing. Even if it's small, a hole in drywall looks bad and signals a lack of maintenance by the homeowner. That's why 72 percent of Realtors recommend sellers complete this project before listing their home.

Cleaning carpets before an open house is crucial to enhance the overall appearance and freshness of a home, with 71 percent of Realtors agreeing it's an important task before a showing. Clean carpets eliminate odors and allergens, creating a more inviting and comfortable environment that's more likely to appeal to prospective buyers.

The average cost for professional carpet cleaning is $0.33 per square foot, but can be higher or lower depending on carpet type.

For those looking to do this project yourself, you can rent Rug Doctor rug cleaning machines at most grocery stores and home improvement centers for $35 to $50 for 24 hours, plus the cost of cleaning solution. These machines are user-friendly and meant for homeowner DIY use.

Mature white man in his forties about to paint a white door jam with touch up paint.

Touch Up or Repaint Problem Walls

Touching up or repainting problem walls before putting your house on the market

 can significantly improve the overall aesthetics of your home and give the 

impression of a well-maintained property.

"I tell [sellers] to focus on small projects like touching up paint on walls and woodwork,

Paint goes a long way in freshening up a home. 57 to 58 percent of Realtors 

recommend this project to their sellers.

A professional painter will cost $2 to $7 per square foot, or about $3,500 for an average 

size house. This price does not include paint, which will cost $35 to $70 per gallon

 and cover 350 to 400 square feet. If you have the time, tools and skill, homeowners

 can save on these costs by doing it themselves.

Close up of a guy's hands holding packing machine and sealing cardboard boxes with duct tape

Remove Personal Items

Remove personal items like collectibles, memorabilia, religious artifacts and photos to 

neutralize your home. This allow buyers to envision themselves living there.

"I tell people to take all pictures off the refrigerator and the walls, which people struggle

 with sometimes," Tourville says. "I tell them it helps people picture themselves living there

 and helps a space look less cluttered." Sixty-five percent of Realtors polled said they 

recommend depersonalizing a home before a showing.

In the same NAR profile, Realtors call living rooms, kitchens and primary bedrooms 

the most important rooms for staging, so these should be the focus of any depersonalizing

 efforts. This can be part of a staging company's services, but can also be done by

 homeowners with the time and some empty boxes.


IMPROVE LANDSCAPING

Fifty percent of Realtors suggest improving landscaping before any showings to enhance the overall 

curb appeal. The outside of the house is the first thing people see when they drive up.

It's crucial to a buyer's first impression.


Regrout Shower

Regrouting or touching up grout improves the cleanliness and appearance of a 

bathroom while preventing potential water damage issues.






Holly Hurd~ Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Kee, Realty.... your source for all your real estate. We are one of the Largest brokerage firms in Michigan, we have proven we can stand the test of time in this ever changing marketplace a proven leader for you and all your real estate needs. In today's competitive real estate market, timing is everything. Many good homes are sold before they are ever advertised. Beat other homebuyers to the hottest new homes for sale in the Wayne/Oakland co. area with my New Listings Notification. If you own real estate that you're thinking of selling, I would be happy to provide you with a FREE Home Evaluation. Whether you are buying or selling a home, hire someone like me, who wants to earn your business. I invite you to contact me as I'd be happy to assist you with this important transaction. In addition, if you have any general questions about buying or selling real estate in Michigan, please contact me as I'm more than willing to help.YOU CAN REACH ME DIRECT BY PHONE ANYTIME AT 734 718-5736 #YourHomeNorthvilleMichigan Real Estate Homes for sale in Northville Michigan Northville, Mi. 48167 #realtor #realestate #realestatemarket #hometown #hollyhurd #home

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