Scarsdale Seller Checklist

Making the decision to sell your home is an important move, but before you can open the doors to prospective buyers, you’ll need to make sure the property is ready to sell. This means finding ways to make your home stand out on the Scarsdale, NY, real estate market. If you’ve never sold a home before, figuring out where to start can be tough. Even if you are familiar with the steps, a refresher is always a good opportunity to make sure you’re doing everything right. Here are a few easy tasks you’ll want to take care of before putting your home on the market.

The first step is to find an experienced real estate agent that you like and trust to list your Scarsdale home.  Don’t be afraid to ask about their recently sold homes in your neighborhood, referrals from past clients, and their work style. The key lies in choosing a local real estate agent that you connect with and is active in your local market. An agent who has a lot of transactional experience in your area will understand the nuances of the local buyers, potential issues that come up during the sale, and the contract prices of neighboring homes before they close. This ensures that they know how to adequately prepare, price, and market your property to attract qualified buyers and get them into contract.

When you put your home on the Scarsdale, NY, real estate market, you want to make sure it looks as good as possible before your real estate agent brings in the photographer to shoot photos and video of the property. First impressions are vital. Evaluate the condition of your home and focus on visual appeal. A small investment of time and energy will make a big difference, bringing you the highest possible price in the shortest period of time.

The best place to start is by deep cleaning your home. Tackle one room at a time, starting with the space you use most often. Pick up any clutter you see. Dust every surface in the room. Vacuum, sweep, or mop the floors thoroughly. Repeat this process in each room of your home. Once your home is clean, you’ll be able to spot any minor cosmetic issues or damage that need to be fixed to help you attract the right buyer.

If major improvements or renovations are required, be sure to complete them before you put your property on the market. It is also essential to have all building permits and certificates of occupancy in place.

Cleaning your home is just the first step in making your property outshine other houses in Scarsdale. You’ll also want to stage the space. Staging your home refers to the process of getting the home ready for prospective buyers to tour. As part of staging your home, you’ll want to remove all personal effects from your room. This includes items like

• Family photos
• Trinkets
• Personalized or monogrammed towels
• Artwork and decorations on the fridge
• Sentimental items

These personal items can be distracting for prospective buyers. By removing these things as part of your home staging process, you’ll make it easier for buyers to picture themselves and their belongings in your home. The more clearly they can see themselves in your home, the more likely buyers will be to make an offer on your property rather than others on the Scarsdale, NY, real estate market.

It’s also a good idea to put any valuables like jewelry, medications, and other important items in a secure place prior to each showing. Though most prospective buyers will leave those items alone, some may try to steal them during showings.

In most cases, buyers want to purchase a home that’s in move-in-ready condition. Even minor cosmetic issues and damage in your home can leave prospective buyers feeling uncomfortable with the idea of buying your home or making an offer that’s close to your asking price. Go through each room of your home and look for cosmetic issues that you can fix quickly.

Scuffs on the walls, missing paint, dirty and unpolished fixtures, and other similar issues are simple enough to fix without forcing you to spend hundreds of dollars on the repairs. You may also want to add a fresh coat of paint to the most-used rooms in your home. Once the cosmetic issues are dealt with, your home will look much more well-maintained, even to the untrained eye.

Your home’s exterior and landscaping are the first things that prospective buyers see when touring your home. When it’s dingy or poorly maintained, your yard can lead buyers to think that your entire home is neglected.

Before your first home showing, give your landscaping a little TLC. Pull weeds, remove dead or dying plants, stay on top of mowing the lawn, and keep walkways clear of leaves and plant debris. This will help make your yard–and, by extension, your home–look nicer and help your home make a good first impression compared to other homes and townhomes in Scarsdale.

Your real estate agent will handle most of the selling process for you. However, it’s still helpful to stay in close contact with your agent throughout the process. If you have guests coming and aren’t able to accommodate showings or need advance notice to make sure the home is ready for tours, let your real estate agent know as soon as possible. If you have questions about how you can better set your home up for open houses or need advice about an offer you receive, contact your agent and let them guide you through everything.

One of the most important things to keep in mind when putting your home on the market is that finding the right buyer to purchase your home can take time. Try to be patient and know that your home will sell to the right buyer eventually. If you’re worried about the length of time that your property has been on the market, discuss your concerns with your real estate agent. They may be able to explain what’s going on and what can be done differently to make your home stand out from others.

As long as you keep this checklist in mind, you’ll be able to navigate the home selling process with ease. If you’re ready to put your home on the market, reach out to experienced agent Cindy Schwall today. Cindy is an expert in Scarsdale real estate and has lived in the area for over 22 years. She looks forward to helping you sell your home for top dollar and as quickly as possible.