How to Prep Your Home for Sale in 30 Days

Youve decided to sell your home. Now what?

Preparing your home to show to prospective buyers can be a lot of work. After all, the goal is to sell it for top dollar, and buyers have high expectations. Experts say most homeowners will be able to get their home in shape in 30 days, if they stay motivated and work hard.

In 30 days, you want to focus on making your home as move in ready as possible, cosmetically and structurally, says Cara Ameer, broker associate and Realtor at Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty based in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Take care of any needed areas of repair and deferred maintenance start from the outside because if you cant get them in from the outside, they wont look at the inside.

Experts suggest looking online at other houses and attending open houses in your area to see how your home compares and identify what needs to be upgraded.

Agents can also give you recommendations on how you should prepare your home for sale. It always helps to consult with a local real estate agent for your market so you know what to do to make your home competitive and command top dollar, says Ameer.

Bring in a friend, family member or expert to help identify necessary repairs and to help stage the interior to make the home more desirable to buyers. Something very simple that can be easily fixed or made better can have a significant impact on how perspective buyers value your property, says Daren Blomquist, vice president at RealtyTrac.

Getting your home ready for sale can be a significant investment, and Ameer suggest striking a balance for whats appropriate in your marketplace. The biggest mistake people make is underestimating the amount of money they need to spend, and theyre surprised when they add up the cost of everything. This investment could be money well spent and command a 25% higher return.

To help you get ready for your homes sale in a month, experts provided the following tips:

Landscape and Freshen Up the Exterior

Your homes exterior is the basis for a sellers first impression, experts say. Start working on the garden and the landscaping, advises Michael Corbett, Trulia's real estate expert. You want your grass to be green and to plant some flowers.

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How to Prep Your Home for Sale in 30 Days