Things You Should Be Doing When Selling Your Home In Naples, Florida

Wondering what you should be doing to get your home ready to list for sale in Naples, FL? Here are 7 things you should do before selling your house!

Do you want to sell your house but aren’t sure where to begin? Should you hire a realtor or go it alone? What improvements can you make to your home to make it more appealing to buyers? What additional measures can you take to improve the curb appeal of your property? Let’s have a closer look at the selling procedure, as well as some suggestions for getting through it.

Today’s Naples, FL Real Estate Market

Let’s start with the most important thing: You’ve probably heard some incredible rumors about the housing market lately. That properties are getting offers far greater than asking price, or that buyers must be able to offer extremely high amounts of cash in good faith and earnest money costs in order to have a chance at winning an offer, are just a few of the notions that may be going through your mind right now. Perhaps those are some of the reasons why you’re considering putting your house on the market. Or maybe you simply want a change and are seeking for a new environment that better reflects your current lifestyle!

Regardless, let’s look at some of the actions you should take to ensure that you are prepared to sell your home.

Step 1: Find a Realtor

Let’s take a look at some of the alternatives you have for getting your house ready to sell. There are several options for getting your property on the market, but you must select the one that will result in the greatest amount of net profit.

1. Opendoor – This is a method of selling your property that has gained in popularity and, in certain ways, appears to be too good to be true. Opendoor provides all-cash offers for homes, which would be advantageous if you are seeking to sell your home in Naples, FL quickly. However, this isn’t a choice we’d recommend unless you have extensive real estate market expertise. Options like Opendoor might also include hidden costs that would total more than or equal to the commisions you would pay a realtor.
2. For Sale By Owner (FSBO) – Most sellers who opt for this method are attempting to save money and are aware that they will not have to pay a realtor’s commission. However, it is important to remember that selling your home is a full-time job. You’ll be in charge of marketing your property, setting showing appointments, and other aspects of the deal. Although you would be saving money, you would also be spending far more time performing the legwork necessary to sell your house that a real estate agent could do for you.
3. Hire a Licensed Real Estate Agent – As previously said, although you will have to pay a real estate agent commission, they will take the majority of the work required to sell your house off your shoulders. An experienced real estate professional has excellent marketing and negotiation skills as well as access to a strong network of contacts. They’ll be able to tap into a network of potential buyers, as well as assist you in finding a new home through that same network after your property has been sold. If you’re looking for a real estate agent but don’t know where to begin, searching for local real estate firms in the Naples, FL area is a good place to start. You may also ask family or friends if they can recommend any good agents. Once you’ve found someone you’d want to meet, schedule an appointment with them so you can see whether their personality and experience matches the type of real estate agent you want to work with.

Step 2: Organize Your House

Clutter is the last thing a potential buyer wants to see while inspecting a property, whether it be online or in-person. If a home appears to be unable to contain many of your belongings, buyers may draw the conclusion that it can’t hold theirs. Before you list your home, do a thorough clean sweep of any areas where a buyer will walk through, such as:

• closets
• pantries
• garage space
• kitchen
• drawer storage
• bookshelves.

Take any of your extra stuff to a donation center or pack it up ahead of time and store it off-site while your property is put up for sale. When the moment comes for you to move, having organized your house ahead of time will not only make it seem more appealing to curious buyers, but it will also save you time by allowing you to pack most of your personal belongings beforehand.

Step 3: Curb Appeal

The outside of your house is the first thing that catches a buyer’s attention when they’re looking for homes online or just driving around in your neighborhood, so curb appeal is essential. Another way to think of curb appeal is a home’s face value. The following are some things to consider when improving curb appeal:

• The Yard – Check the grass to see if it needs cutting or trimming. If your grass isn’t in good shape, consider fertilizing it or applying a lawn starter a few weeks before putting your house on the market. Then, when you’re ready to post the For Sale sign out front, make sure it gets a final trim and cut so that it’s looking nice for prospective buyers.
• Front Porch – Your front porch will be the next thing a buyer notices about your property as they will be standing on it to start their showing appointment. Simple additions such as a few potted plants, a nice doormat, or anything as basic as replacing street address digits on the front of your property may entice buyers. Small details like this, in addition to larger ones, can pique their interest on how they might personalize the porch if they purchase your home. When it comes to curb appeal, the little things may sometimes add up to the big picture.
• Front Door – Believe it or not, your front door has a big influence on the overall appearance of your home. Realtors can’t tell you how many times clients have praised the look of a property’s front door. If your homes exterior is in a neutral tone, consider painting the front door in a brighter color to provide more contrast. You might want to replace an old, worn-out front door with a new one that offers different design elements or one with windows that let more light into the home. Whichever path you take, be sure that the paint or new front door complements your home’s style so that all its features blend together naturally.
• Garage Door – The appearance of your garage door has a significant influence on the overall look of your house, just as it does with your front door. Consider painting or staining it in an eye-catching color or one that complements the front door if necessary. After dark, consider adding lights on either side of the door for a modest aesthetic touch that will not only give elegance but functionality to your property.
• Exterior – You’d be surprised at how much a fresh coat of paint can improve the look of a property. If your paint is flaking or fading, potential buyers won’t find it very appealing. Examine your home for any spots where siding might be damaged before you start painting to ensure that no repairs are required after the job is completed. Inspectors will look for the condition of your siding when they do inspections later on during the process if you go under contract. These ideas may appear to be easy and basic, but never underestimate the power of improving the curb appeal of your property.

Step 4: Updates

Updating your home is a crucial step to consider in order to make it ready to sell. It’s an investment, yes, but the payoff will be long-term. Some buyers are fine with minor modifications here and there when they move into a home, but you’ll increase your opportunity to make a larger profit if you make your house as move-in ready as possible. The following are some common areas you can improve in your house:

• HVAC – You want to make sure that your thermostat and your air conditioner are working properly. This will be one of the aspects of a house inspection that will receive detailed attention. If you know any of these systems need to be updated, you should do it sooner rather than later. Not only will you not have to worry about possible problems on inspection day, but you’ll also save yourself the trouble of worrying about it later.
• Appliances – If you’re planning on selling your home, appliances are a great way to add value. Appliances in your house that will be included in the sale, such as your refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, and washer and dryer, add a lot of value to your property. You do not have to include these items in the sale of your home; this is something you should discuss with your realtor so they can confirm whether or not those specifics will be included in the contract. If you decide to include them in the sale of your property, it’s just one more thing that’ll help you make more money.
• Lighting – One of the most commonly discussed elements of a property by realtors during listing appointments is lighting. Simply said, if you want to sell your home, an old, dark house will not entice potential buyers in the way you desire. Outside of the house, add lights to the front porch and/or solar lights on either side of the driveway. Inside the home, update old fixtures to match the improvements you have made outside (if necessary). If fixtures do not require replacement, replacing light bulbs with new ones can make a huge difference. Warm and inviting lighting in a house should tell visitors that they are welcome.

Step 5: Clean Your House

This is simply a matter of appealing to the senses. If your property appears clean and well-kept, it will appeal more to potential buyers. You don’t have to dust or polish every inch of your house, but ensuring that it looks tidy and organized is critical when preparing it for sale. Take a quick look at your windows. If they need dusting or polishing, grab a towel and a bottle of Windex and go to town. Similarly, make sure your furniture is dusted and any unnecessary items are removed from the house. Sweep and mop the flooring; vacuum any area that features carpeting. It’s also a good idea to clean the bathrooms, including the counters, shower tiles, and toilets. You want to make similar efforts for buyers as you would for friends and family when making your home appealing.

Step 6: Set the Stage

The next stage in preparing your home for sale? Staging it. This does not necessarily imply that you must employ a crew of specialists to stage your property, although this is an option if you wish to do so. This simply implies that the house be prepared in such a way that a buyer may quickly take it all in. Make sure the furniture is set up in such a manner as to entice potential buyers through the house and make it easy for them to move around. It’s standard for a homeowner to remove family photos or any overly bright artwork or furniture, since they might divert attention away from the overall aesthetic of the house. You do want to include some personal touches, but not so many that your buyer can’t imagine themselves spending holidays with their families in the house.

Step 7: Take Pictures

Whether you have photographs taken professionally or take them yourself, this stage is critical when selling your home. In today’s digital world, 98 percent of the time, a buyer will first see your property online before seeing it in person. Your photos must pique their interest. If you’re taking the pictures yourself, pay close attention to the angles, lighting, and clarity in the photos. If you want to take more than one photo of a specific room in your house from various angles, that is encouraged. You want a potential buyer to be able to view as much of your home as possible in the photographs so they will want to visit in person.

What’s Next?

Once you’ve completed the steps necessary to get your house ready to sell, sit back and wait for offers to come in! Your listing agent will submit your property to your local MLS, including photographs, a history of previous marketing, importent documents with information about any known problems with the home, as well as updates regarding improvements. Your realtor will organize showings for potential buyers while also passing on any bids that come in. All you have to worry about is selecting the best offer for your home. This is another situation where working with a real estate professional can be beneficial. They will be able to advise you on which offers would provide you with the highest return on your investment.

Final Thoughts On What Steps You Need To Take To Sell Your House In Naples, FL

Our main goal is to be a resource to you for all your buying and selling needs. We make sure that no questions are left unanswered in order to provide you with a sense of ease when making one of the most important purchases of your life. Feel free to contact us today! We are here to help!