Realtor Robert Russom has seen it all when it comes to homeowners getting ready to sell their properties.
“A lot of people call us up and want to start talking price immediately,” says Russom, who sells homes in the Birmingham area with his wife, Beth. “We always do a prelisting checklist to help them understand the many things that need to be done to prepare their home to sell quickly for top dollar.”
Russom says the most effective sellers take the time to look closely at their homes and take care of items that need attention before they throw a sign in the front yard.
“If someone is thinking about selling in the next few months, I encourage them to use their time effectively. Get in touch with an agent ahead of time to learn the things you need to do to get your house ready. Instead of starting that process when you’re ready to sell, you are sitting on go.”
Russom suggests making the most of your property, but that doesn’t mean always mean undertaking expensive and time-consuming projects.
“Do the best with what you’ve got to get it sold at the highest price. Go for the low-hanging fruit: touch up nicked paint inside, pressure wash the outdoor hardscape, call a lawn company to take care of the weeds and have the edges cut clean. Do the might as-well-projects."
Russom says curb appeal makes an important first impression. He recommends making sure your front entry looks really nice.
“The front door step is a bit of a pause for purchasers while the agent is unlocking door. The purchaser is looking at everything a lot closer than anyone who’s coming over for a cookout would. Get a nice looking front doormat. Make sure the light bulbs are working and match. Clean out the cob webs. Consider a hardware upgrade. You don’t want anything that makes someone get a bad taste in that first moment.”
Russom also points out that smells are important. He suggests having someone who doesn’t live in your home come in and tell you if there are bad odors because you can go nose blind. He also says it’s a good idea to stow pet items out of view and consider boarding your pets for at least the first few days your home is on the market. If you’ve got young children, make sure all their items are out of the living spaces because it can make people think you’re out of room.
“Your home needs to look like something you’d see in a magazine. If it doesn’t make the room or outdoor setting look better, it doesn’t need to be there. It’s all going to get moved soon anyway.”
Reach out to the Russoms at robertrussom.realtysouth.com.
