The coronavirus pandemic has changed a lot of things, but people are still buying and selling Houston property. Some people are taking the opportunity presented by remote work to move closer to family. Others are finding new jobs. For those with the ability, buying a home can be a great thing. Mortgage rates are low, and sellers are motivated. Because of the restrictions over the summer, many experts are predicting that we will see a stronger than usual final quarter of home sales. Whether you’re downsizing, making a change to follow your dreams, or moving for any other reason, we’ve got a list of our best tips for getting your current property ready to hit the Houston real estate market.
Declutter and Clean So Your Houston Property Shines
The first thing you should do if you’re going to sell your current home is to declutter. Give away or throw away anything you haven’t used in a while. Pack up seasonal items and anything you won’t need to use in the immediate future. Consider renting a storage unit while your house is for sale. The goal is for your home to seem as open and spacious as possible. Focus on keeping horizontal surfaces clear. Take out at least half of the stuff in cupboards and closets. Potential buyers want to feel like there’s plenty of space for their own things.
Once you’ve decluttered, it’s time to deep clean. Get into all the nooks and crannies. Make sure that the windows are sparkling. Dust light fixtures and put in bright new bulbs so there’s plenty of light. If you have carpet, think about renting a steam cleaner or having a professional cleaner come in. Speaking of professionals, you should also consider hiring a cleaning company that specializes in getting houses ready for sale. They’ll do a fast and thorough job, and this can save you a lot of time in the long run.
Houston property owners with some money to spend on their homes should think about having the interior freshly painted in a bright neutral. The kitchen and bathrooms are good places to invest in updated fixtures like a new faucet and classy drawer pulls and handles.
Once everything is sparkling and new, think about how the furniture is arranged. Professional staging can be a good investment. You can also learn a lot from sites like Houzz and decorators’ blogs. Be sure that each room has a clear purpose. Set the dining room table. Arrange the living room in a cozy, conversational way. Brighten things up inexpensively with new throw pillows, a table cloth, lamps, and artwork. If you have a room that’s always been sort of a catch-all, give it a purpose. Make it a home office, guest room, or craft space.
The exterior of Houston real estate is just as important as the interior. Make sure it’s easy to see the house number from the curb. Mow and edge the lawn and trim the trees. Plant colorful flowers or at least get some attractive potted plants. People form impressions of a house very quickly. You want the first thing they see to be inviting and well maintained.
Remember that most house purchases begin online. Potential buyers will look at a gallery of photos and determine whether they want to visit the house. Be sure the impression is one of plenty of light and space. Hiring a photographer who regularly works in real estate is a good idea. With the restrictions around coronavirus, it’s also a good idea to have a video house tour. This will give people a better sense of the house before they visit. It can be an appealing selling point, too.
Get Expert Guidance From an Experienced Houston Real Estate Agent
While many things about getting a house ready to sell have remained the same, coronavirus has brought about a number of changes. We’ve mentioned a few. How your house appears online is more important than ever. When it comes time to show your house in person, potential buyers will want to feel safe. Providing hand sanitizer and disposable masks, gloves, and even booties is a goodwill gesture. Having enough time between showings will also be important. On the other hand, you want to be as flexible as possible so that agents can show the house to interested buyers. Have a plan for wiping down and sanitizing surfaces. Then go for a drive or grab a bite to eat so you can relax during the showing.
Be sure to work with a real estate agent who knows the Houston property market and your particular neighborhood. You also want someone who is experienced in online marketing. It’s not a bad idea to look for an agent or a team that is generally tech-savvy--they are comfortable using Skype, Zoom, and other online communication platforms. Talk to any potential agent about the possibility of signing documents electronically. Get a clear sense of what parts of the transaction can be done remotely and what must be done in person.
A good agent will also be able to guide you in the kinds of updates and renovations that are expected in the current market. You don’t need to completely redo the house before putting up a for-sale sign. In fact, you get more bang for your buck on smaller projects, as highlighted earlier.
We hope this list gets you thinking about how you want to prepare to sell your house.
Please give our office a call. We are a team of experienced Houston agents. We’d be happy to walk you through the intricate process of buying a house.
