You’ve just accepted a new job offer and will have to relocate to fill the position. Or perhaps you’ve received exciting news that your family size is about to grow from a new birth or adoption. Maybe you don’t have as specific a reason as these examples, but you just feel it’s the right time to move on, so you’re ready to sell your house.
The question is: Are you truly ready? Many people make the mistake of thinking they can go from the idea (“It’s time to sell my house.”) to fruition with little time or effort in between. This typically couldn’t be farther from the truth. In fact, one of the best things you can do to sell your house is to set a timeline for the listing. This means that you will create a “buffer” of time in between the decision to sell and the actual listing of your house on the market.
Why you should set a timeline to sell your house
You might think that setting a timeline is a waste of time or that you might even lose offers that may have come in if you had listed your house on the market right away. The reality is that you increase your chances for success if you take at least a month or two to adequately prepare to put the for sale sign up in the yard. During this time, you can do several things that will help you sell your house.
For example, you might consider getting a pre-sale inspection on the home before listing it on the market. This enables you to be “ahead of the game,” regarding potential issues that might impede a sale. If the inspection goes well, you can move ahead with preparations to sell your house. If the inspector identifies a problem, you have two choices: Rectify the issue before listing the home or disclosing it to prospective buyers.
Additional things to do as your timeline nears its completion
If you allow yourself a month or two to prepare to sell your house, you can make good use of the time. In addition to a pre-sale inspection, you can deep clean the house from top to bottom. Less clutter and clean walls (or better yet, a fresh coat of paint) improve your chances of getting offers. Learn about curb appeal and take time to create an exterior appearance in front of your home that will attract buyers.
You’re finally ready to sell
Setting a timeline enables you to get your home in tip-top shape before listing it on the market in South Carolina. A home that is sale-ready will not linger on the market as long as a home that is in need of numerous major repairs or lacks aesthetic value.