This COVID-19 Pandemic sure has a special way of derailing even the best of plans, doesn’t it?
If you were planning on or even just thinking about selling your house in 2020, you might be holding off on listing for now - waiting to see what the housing market might do in response to this unexpected crisis.
Because we’re just over here always trying to find the bright side…we put together a little to-do list for you. And, when the quarantine orders lift, and the curve has flattened, we’ll be here to help you get your place on the market and also help you find a new one!
Paint all the things.
Now that brunch is canceled indefinitely, you might find yourself staring at the walls thinking, wow…those could really use a refresh. From the dining room that you never got around to decorating after you moved in, to the master bath which might be really outdated, there’s no time like the present. And there’s just something about the smell of freshly painted walls that makes our Real Estate loving hearts skip a beat!
Did you know that it’s possible to get paint and painting supplies delivered right to your door?
There are also a bunch of Color + Paint Visualizing Tools that allow you to upload photos of your space and try different colors on for size without the mess of samples and swatching.
Need some color inspiration? Start with this year’s Color of the Year. And, we always think you can’t go wrong with a coat of white!
So, take a look around, choose a room, and get started - fresh paint almost always has a great return on the time + investment when you sell!
Start Sorting + Packing
When we are getting ready to list a home for sale, one of our first pieces of advice is, start packing — you’re moving.
As you watch those quarantine deliveries and Amazon boxes pile up around you, put them to good use and start filling them up with things you don’t necessarily need right now, but that you definitely want to take with you when you move.
Use this time to start sorting through all of your stuff, too. We recommend the KonMari Method:
“Most tidying methods advocate a room-by-room or little-by-little approach, which doom you to pick away at your piles of stuff forever.
The KonMari Method™ encourages tidying by category – not by location – beginning with clothes, then moving on to books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and, finally, sentimental items. Keep only those things that speak to the heart, and discard items that no longer spark joy. Thank them for their service – then let them go.”
It’s OK to neatly stack those moving boxes in the garage or storage area when your home is listed for sale, and there is usually no need to rent a storage space if you follow an organized process.
This process often ends up rushed, and people end up moving stuff that they don’t really need or want because when the stager + photographer are on their way over, it’s too tempting to just throw everything in boxes and deal with it later…hello, quarantine time, there’s nothing else to do, so turn on a good movie or podcast and start sorting + packing!
Learn How to Caulk
One of the most common items that we see come up on Inspection Objections (the list of items created by the Buyer after Inspections that they ask the Seller to either complete or credit them for) is “repair and replace all caulk in kitchen and bathrooms”.
Go ahead and get this task out of the way now, before you list your home for sale - as a bonus, it will also help potential Buyers to feel confident in your home’s maintenance and it looks so much better right away (even if we’re all stuck at home for weeks, we still love instant gratification, right?).
Over time the caulk that seals seams and gaps can wear out or collect dirt. So whether it's for aesthetic or practical reasons, re-caulking a shower or bathtub is a great way to freshen up your bathroom while learning an essential home repair skill.
Clumpy + blobby or dried + cracked caulk lines are a big buyer turn-off, and laying a proper bead of caulk is an acquired skill that will come in handy for sure.
If you don't already have a caulk gun, this is the time to order one — spend a few dollars more for one with a smooth action and no-drip stop; you'll be glad you did. As long as you wipe off any excess caulk when you're done working, the caulk gun should last a decade or more.
Go ahead and get this task out of the way now, before you list your home for sale - as a bonus, it will also help potential Buyers to feel confident in your home’s maintenance and it looks so much better right away (even if we’re all stuck at home for weeks, we still love instant gratification, right?).
Install Popular Details
We know that if you’re thinking about moving, you likely look obsessively at homes online. Start taking note or saving photos that catch your eye - we bet they’ll have something in common: whether it’s brightly patterned removable wallpaper in the powder room, patterned tile on the kitchen island or backsplash, fresh + trending light fixtures in the entry or dining room, or a freshly painted front door - these are all relatively easy + inexpensive cosmetic upgrades that will help Buyers notice YOUR home once it’s photographed and online!
Self-adhesive wallpaper is one of our favorite things - it’s easy to install, not a huge commitment, and it comes in soooooo many great patterns and colors!
Not sure if something you’re thinking of doing will be a great upgrade or a big no for Buyers? Reach out, send us a photo of your space, we would love to help you get started, make a decision, or help you choose the perfect pattern or paint color!
Take Care of You
Most importantly, make sure that you are taking care of yourself during this incredibly stressful time. Don’t try to get everything done in one day. Rest. Follow the advice + guidelines of the CDC. And know that the housing market still be here, and it will be ready whenever you are.
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