Home selling checklist 2019

Selling your home is something you usually do only once or twice in your life. But what will the asking price be? What do you still need to arrange yourself? How do you present your house in the best and most effective way on a real estate website? These are probably questions you have when selling your home.

With this checklist, we help guide you through the process.

Preparations

When you plan to sell your home, this has implications for your loan or mortgage. Selling your home can have financial consequences. If you want to know more about the financial implications, you can schedule a meeting with us for advice, where we will answer all your questions. You can also speak with your financial lender to discuss the financial consequences of buying a house or apartment.

Before you sell your home, it’s important to determine the selling price. It’s essential to know the value of your property. Unfortunately, you don’t determine this yourself; the value is assessed by real estate agents and appraisers, as calculating a property’s value is not simple. Even for agents and appraisers, this can sometimes be quite challenging. A certified NVM real estate agent from IMMO Arie van der Lee will visit your home for an initial consultation. During this visit, the agent will prepare a report and provide advice on the selling price.

Determining the value of a property is not guesswork. An experienced agent looks at several factors, such as the selling prices of nearby homes, the condition of your property, the location, and much more. They also take into account what stays with the house, such as carpeting, garden lighting, and window treatments. The sales advisor from IMMO Arie van der Lee will set your selling price and offer advice on the ideal asking price for your home. We also have a handy blog about selling your house quickly.

Selling on your own or with a real estate agent?

Will you sell your home with or without an agent? Most people choose to hire an agent when selling their home. This makes the process much easier, as an agent takes over many of the tasks involved in selling a property. However, some sellers opt to sell their homes themselves to save money. Selling on your own requires a lot of time and energy. You need to handle everything from setting the asking price, arranging viewings, negotiating, and advertising. You can also choose partial services, where the agent assists with certain tasks while you remain in control. Either way, it’s wise to sell your home during the best possible time of the year.

Preparing the home for sale

Selling a home involves creating visual content, such as photos and videos, to present the property online. Photos are often the first impression of a house or apartment, so they need to be professional and excellent: you only get one chance to make a first impression. IMMO Arie van der Lee ensures the best presentation of your property, offering photos, videos, 360-degree images, 3D scans, and floor plans. Before our professional photographer visits, some preparations need to be made. When tidying up your home for photos, clean it in a way that appeals to potential buyers, not just in a way that you find tidy. Take inspiration from homes already listed online, and ask someone with a critical eye to review your space. Below are some important tips for preparing your home for sale. You can also find additional tips in our 2018 checklist.

Exterior of the home

The first thing potential buyers see during a viewing is the exterior of your home. Make sure the garden is well-kept, clear the leaves, and sweep the sidewalk. Remove any clutter from the front windows and clean the glass. If your front door or carport is dirty, give it a fresh coat of paint to make it look clean. If you have a driveway, sweep it as well.

Living room

Thoroughly clean the living room and remove as many unnecessary items as possible. While you may like certain decorations, they might not appeal to potential buyers. Keep the living room simple and uncluttered. Open the curtains and make sure they are clean, allowing as much light as possible into the room. Clear walking space, combined with good lighting, makes your home feel larger. Clean doors and handles thoroughly. If you have open shelves, dust and partially empty them, leaving only a few interesting books or decorations. The hallway is also important, as it leads to the living room. If you have a coat rack in the hall, remove some of the jackets to make it look organized. Shoes should also be stored away to avoid a cluttered appearance.

Kitchen

The kitchen should feel like a great place to cook. Clear the countertops, give it a deep clean, and remove unnecessary appliances. Take down magnets and drawings from the fridge and wipe it clean. Create as much space as possible by keeping the kitchen and dining table clear. A simple vase of flowers is all you need on the dining table.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms should be tidy and free of clutter. Make the bed and clean any desks or shelves. If you have items on top of wardrobes or shelves, remove them. In children’s bedrooms, it’s nice to showcase the space as a playroom, but too many toys can look messy. Temporarily remove excess toys to keep the room tidy.

Bathroom

The same rules apply to the bathroom and toilet: keep them clean and simple. Fold towels neatly and remove laundry baskets, trash cans, and toiletries.

Ad text

If you’re selling your house on your own, you’ll need to write an ad text for your property. If you work with IMMO Arie van der Lee, our experienced agents will do this for you. An ad text should entice the reader and be well-structured. A great ad text discusses the property itself, the location, and highlights the home’s best features. Mention nearby amenities and points of interest as well.

Property information

Along with the property ad, you’ll also need to include a description and floor plans. The description covers key features of the home, such as the transfer details, construction year, size, layout, energy information, land registry data, outdoor space, storage, garage, and parking. It also includes a detailed description of the neighborhood.

Selling phase of your home viewings

Viewings

Now that your home is prepared, it’s time to schedule viewings. Your home should look its best for these. You can conduct the viewings yourself, or a real estate agent can handle them. IMMO Arie van der Lee organizes successful viewings.

The offer

After viewings, a buyer may make an offer on your home. Sometimes the offer is even higher than the asking price. With the help of a sales advisor, you can negotiate the selling price. At IMMO Arie van der Lee, we prioritize your satisfaction as the seller and are happy to assist with the purchase agreement and contract.

Best of luck with selling your home!