If I Wanted to Sell My Home Before the End of the Year, Here Are the 3 Things I’d Do

If I wanted to sell my home in the Des Moines metro before the end of the year, I wouldn’t start by calling a contractor. And I wouldn’t start by putting a “For Sale” sign in the yard.

I’d start with three things that can have a much bigger impact on how buyers see the home and, ultimately, how successfully it sells.

1. I’d Declutter Like I’m Moving

Here’s the easiest way to think about decluttering before selling your home:

You’re going to have to pack eventually. Start now.

When buyers walk into a home, you want them thinking about the space, the layout and how their life could fit there. You don’t want them thinking about how much stuff is in the house.

I’d focus on:
-Kitchen and bathroom counters
-Closets
-Garage
-Basement
-Excess furniture
-Toys
-Seasonal decorations
-Personal photos
-Collections
-Anything that makes a room feel smaller

And don’t forget the places buyers might not expect. Open the closets. Open the cabinets. Look in the garage. Buyers will.

The goal isn’t to make your house look empty. It’s to make it feel spacious, clean and easy to imagine living in.

Decluttering is also one of the most commonly recommended steps real estate professionals suggest before putting a home on the market. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, 91% of agents recommend decluttering before listing.

2. I’d Fix the Little Things, But I Wouldn’t Remodel Just to Sell

Before spending thousands of dollars updating your home, I’d walk through it with a critical eye.

What would a buyer notice?

Maybe it’s a dripping faucet. A loose door handle. A cracked piece of trim. A wall that needs a touch-up. A burned-out light bulb. A torn screen. A door that doesn’t close properly.

None of these things individually are likely to make or break a sale. But when a buyer sees enough small maintenance issues, they can start wondering: “What else hasn’t been taken care of?” That’s why I’d take care of the inexpensive things that make your home feel well-maintained.

But here’s what I wouldn’t do: I wouldn’t automatically spend $20,000 remodeling the kitchen because you think that’s what buyers want.

Before making a major improvement, I’d ask whether the project is actually likely to help you sell the home or whether you’re simply making it nicer for the next owner.

Every home is different. The right improvements depend on your property’s condition, price point and competition in the Des Moines-area real estate market.

3. I’d Get My Pricing and Marketing Strategy Figured Out Before Listing

This is where I’d want my real estate agent involved early.

One of the biggest mistakes sellers can make is waiting until the day they want to list to figure out what their home is worth and how they’re going to market it.

I’d want to know:
-What are similar homes actually selling for?
-What homes will mine be competing against?
-What does my home offer that those properties don’t?
-What needs to be done before we photograph it?
-What’s the best pricing strategy for my goals?
-And most importantly: How are we going to get buyers to notice it?

A great listing isn’t just a sign in the yard and a few photos online. The goal is to create a launch strategy that puts the home in front of as many qualified buyers as possible and gives them a reason to schedule a showing. That can include professional photography, video, social media marketing, open houses, online exposure and targeted marketing to buyers and agents.

One More Thing: Don’t Wait Until You’re “Ready” to Talk to a Realtor

If you’re thinking about selling your home in Des Moines, Pleasant Hill, Altoona, Ankeny or anywhere in the Des Moines metro before the end of the year, you don’t have to have everything figured out before talking to an agent.

In fact, I’d argue that you shouldn’t.

The earlier we talk, the more options you have. We can walk through your home, talk about what is worth fixing, what isn’t worth fixing, how to prepare the property, what it could potentially sell for and what your timeline might look like.

You don’t have to list tomorrow. You just need to know what needs to happen between today and closing.

If you’re considering selling your Des Moines-area home before the end of the year, I’d be happy to help you build a plan, even if you’re not ready to list yet.

Cody Voga—Your Friend in Real Estate
515-720-1714
cody@c21sre.com
@CodyVogaRealtor

Cody Voga