So you’ve decided to sell your home. Big decision sorted. But now thoughts of prep work, staging, and dealing with all kinds of stressful tasks are running through your head. Your biggest concern is where to even start.
Okay now stop. Take a breath and sing Hakuna Matata. You don’t have to fret. Sarah Balestri and Kate Buckley, Coldwell Banker realtors, are in your corner. Here to answer all your home prep questions – they’re basically your real estate gurus. So sit back, relax, and listen to their experience filled-expertise.
How can I best prepare my home before it goes on the market?
An excellent first step is to reach out to a real estate professional. We can provide a road map for the home selling process and reduce your stress along the way. We’ll create an efficient plan for you, provide many resources and help you avoid bumps. For instance, some cities require a point-of-sale inspection. We can help you with this.
Other preparation projects include:
-
Finish that list of repairs you have been putting off.
-
Short-term projects like painting, updating light fixtures, etc.
-
Declutter.
-
Deep clean.
-
Mitigate odors.
-
Spruce up curb appeal.
Should I hire a stager?
According to Realtor.com, homes that are staged sell 88% faster and for 20% more than homes that are not staged. So in short, we recommend it.
What do stagers do?
A full staging company provides all the staging furniture, art, and accessories. If your goal is to maximize your sale price, this is the way to go. Seeing the home with beautiful, up-to-date furnishings allows buyers to envision their new lifestyle. Besides maximizing sale price, it can be convenient as well.
A lot of companies perform an initial consultation, where the stager creates a “to-do” list of repairs and updates that will yield a high return on investment. Items on that list may include recommending paint colors, updating lighting fixtures, replacing kitchen cabinet hardware, identifying items to be removed or stored, and recommending placement of furniture, art, and accessories. We cover the cost of the consultation if you list with us.
What does staging cost?
The cost of staging ranges depending on the extent to which you stage. The initial consultation is usually $200-300. A full stage of a very large home can approach $10,000. Most are in the $3,000-$5000 range.
What if I don’t have the money to invest in repairs or staging?
Not every seller has the time or money to make a further investment in their home and would prefer to sell it with little effort on their part. Our broker, Coldwell Banker, offers a program called Realvitalize where qualified vendors get the repairs, remodeling, staging, landscaping, etc., done for you and the work is paid for out of the sellers' proceeds at closing. The homeowner gets the benefit of a higher sales price without having to do the work or pay out-of-pocket.
How do I get rid of all the stuff in my house?
If you want to sell items, Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are popular online venues. We can direct you to where items can be dropped off or arrange pick up of large pieces.
Interested in more expert advice? Call Coldwell Banker's Minneapolis Lakes Office at
Call Kate at 612-817-7554 ; and Call Sarah at 612-590-7703
We’ll create an efficient plan for you, provide many resources and help you avoid bumps.