Are you and your family outgrowing a space and looking for your next home? If so, it’s probably a wise idea to begin considering some steps you can take to prepare your home to sell in the new year. After all, from making home repairs to scheduling a company to create 3d virtual home tours so that you can generate buyer interest, to signing a mortgage to boxing up all of your belongings, moving takes time!
Luckily, the winter months offer many opportunities to tackle home repairs and get ready to place your home on the market. From updating finishes and hardware to organizing your home’s paperwork and finances, here are six ways to prepare your home to sell in the New Year.
1. Update Finishes and Hardware
One of the easiest ways to prepare your home to sell in the New Year is to replace outdated materials and finishes. And the best way to do so is by investing in new cabinet hardware such as knobs and pulls to replace outdated accessories. You can also do the same with furniture hardware, adding accents here and there to highlight a home’s unique built-in features and architectural elements.
2. Complete Routine Maintenance
Every year and season demands specific routine maintenance around the home. But since you are preparing your home to sell, it’s important to ensure all boxes are checked and complete, readying the home for potential buyers. Some of these routine maintenance tasks might be as simple as replacing air filters and the batteries of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. But to make your home more appealing, take it a step further and create a more energy-efficient home by having your HVAC system professionally cleaned and sealing drafty doors and windows.
Many homeowners choose to accomplish these routine tasks in January since they’re already cooped up indoors. Plus, the start of the New Year makes it an easy time to remember. For instance, you might need to repair kitchen appliances or a flickering light fixture. If repairing an appliance is on your to-do list, consider taking advantage of a home warranty plan to cover a portion of the cost.
3. Make Home Repairs
As you go through your maintenance checklist, be sure to take note of any issues around the home that may need repairing. Again, winter is one of the most opportune times to make any home repairs. And if you plan to sell, addressing said repairs will make your home appear well taken care of. Go room by room and jot down fixes and areas that need cleaning. For instance, you might need to repair kitchen appliances or a flickering light fixture. You can also conceal scuff marks on the walls of kids’ bedrooms with a fresh coat of paint. Whatever you see that might turn off a potential buyer is worth fixing!
4. Declutter and Clean Out Closets and Cabinets
During the holidays, we tend to collect gifts from family and friends. But if you already struggle to find places to store items, now is a great time to tackle the clutter! Sort through all your closets, cabinets and drawers and get rid of items you no longer want or need. Box up items you want to keep but don’t see yourself using any time soon, such as your summer wardrobe or decorations. This way, you’ll be one step ahead when your home sells. Declutter and clean out areas such as the bathroom cabinets and drawers, tossing out old cosmetics. Be sure to organize the kitchen pantry, mudroom, laundry room and garage, making them appear spacious.
5. Organize Your Finances and Paperwork
Before you sell your home, gather all your finances and paperwork that pertain to your home. This could be anything from property tax records, home repairs (especially those you recently made!) and even homeowner association details and fees. When you have this documentation in order, it helps you and the real estate agent come to a fair asking price, which will help you entice buyers and sell your home that much faster! You can even put together a helpful binder of important documents and paperwork such as appliance manuals and warranty information that will come in handy for future homeowners.
Ultimately, organizing your finances and paperwork not only entices buyers and helps your home to sell, but also prepares you to purchase a new home. When you understand how much your current home is worth, it will help you budget your own search.
6. Keep a Lookout for New Year’s Sales
New Year’s sales can come in handy for both home sellers and buyers. As you prepare your home to sell, a little home staging goes a long way. And when you move into a new home, you may wish to change up the style with modern furniture. Either way, keep a lookout for deep discounts in January and early in the year!
Generally, the New Year brings sales on many home items, such as linens, furniture and even flooring. If you wanted to invest in new hardwoods or vinyl plank flooring, the winter off-season is the perfect time to purchase and schedule a crew for a spring install. Give your bedroom and bathrooms an update with crisp, clean sheets and bath towels, replacing the old fringed ones. Nerdwallet recommends buying new indoor furniture after the holidays and before the new spring collections arrive, which means sometime toward the end of winter in the January and February timeframe. Presidents’ Day is when many furniture stores offer deep discounts.
The Benefits of Preparing Early
Even if you don’t plan to put your house on the market at the start of the New Year, simply preparing your home to sell early on can make you better prepared for other things. For example, even if you aim to sell in the spring, tackling home maintenance and staging the home months beforehand can allow time to address the home’s exterior once the season warms. Overall, being better prepared also removes a ton of stress, allowing you to focus instead on finding a real estate agent and searching for your perfect dream home.
